Schools closed for over 3 years due to insecurity in Lamu re-opened

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Lamu, KENYA: Its relief finally for the Boni minority community in Lamu County after the national government re-opened five primary schools that had remained closed for the past three years due to security concerns.

The Basuba,Milimani, Mangai, Mararani and Kiangwe primary schools all belonging to the Boni community,Kenya’s last forest community,were left empty after over 16 teachers fled the area following constant Alshabaab raids.

Efforts by the Teachers Service Commission-TSC to redeploy teachers to the affected schools have also borne fruit, since 10 teachers employed by the commission have already reported to their duty posts in the various schools.

Speaking in Lamu on Monday,Basuba Schools Board chairperson Mohamed Loo said all plans were complete and that learning shall be commencing this week in the affected schools.

Loo who also among the 10 teachers deployed by TSC to the area as head teacher of the Mangai primary school said of the 10 teachers,two will be sent to each of the five schools to commence work.

“At the moment we are only five head teachers and five ordinary teachers. That translates to just two teachers per school. But we are glad we starting somewhere. We know things will be better soon,”said Loo.

Basuba ward rep Mohamed Delo urged the government to consider youth from the area when employing ECDE teachers since many of them have trained for the same.

READ ALSO: Lamu parents urge TSC to employ natives in the area over insecurity fears

Lamu county commissioner Joseph Kanyiri assured that security shall continue to be observed all over Basuba in order to enable children from the area to comfortably attend school, just like the rest of their counterparts across Kenya.

“Our plan is to deploy more security officers all over Basuba so that both teachers and students can go about their duties without fear.We are sure with the security of the five schools and that is why we are confident to re-open them this year,” said Kanyiri.

Over 500 pupils from Basuba ward have never been in class since June 2014 after Alshabaab attacks became rife in the area.

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