Kilifi,KENYA:Authorities in Kilifi have said they will begin to arrest school children caught wandering during schooldays.
Speaking during the opening of a conference to address the education crisis in the county , the Kilifi county commissioner Magu Mutundika said the move was aimed at addressing the high rate of school dropouts in the county which was ranked last in last years K.C.P.E and K.C.S.E results.
“We will be carrying out patrols and crackdown during market days and arrest all pupils wandering during school days,” Mutundika said.
“This will enable us get the parents of these pupils who will then be dealt with as per the rule of law,” he added.
The conference was also attended by the Kilifi North Mp Owen Baya.
Speaking during the inaugural event Baya said he has come up with a program entitled ‘No Child Left Behind’ which he will ensure all students have access to secondary education regardless of the grades they got in KCPE.
“I have come with this program to ensure all students have access to education not regarding whether a student scored higher marks or low grades where even that one who got as low as 50 marks will be taken to secondary school,” Baya said.
Last year, a research by non governmental organization Youth Alive revealed that 74% of class 3 pupils in Kilifi cannot successfully solve class two homework while 7% of the class 8 pupils could not solve class two homework.
