Alarm as a large number of children stay out of school in West Pokot County
By Benson Aswani,
West Pokot First lady Her Excellency Scovia Kachapin has expressed her concern over a large number of children who do not attend school despite the efforts of the government and various stakeholders to ensure that every child gets an opportunity to attend classes.
Speaking on Tuesday at Kabichbich in Pokot South, Mrs. Kachapin mentioned Alale, Kodich and Konyao as areas largely affected.
However, the West Pokot Governor’s spouse said that the county government is putting in more strategies to address the situation, which includes increasing funds allocated for bursaries.
“We have many children who are still at home despite the efforts to make sure every child has a right to education. That is why the county government under His Excellency Simon Kachapin has increased bursary allocation to cater for more pupils,” said Mrs. Kachapin.
According to West Pokot Children’s Department director Philip Wapopa, poverty and ignorance among the parents are some of the factors that contribute to a large number of children not attending school.
“Many parents are ignorant of the importance of education for their children. Poverty among many residents is another factor,” said Mr. Wapopa.
In addition, Mr. Wapopa said that because of pastoralists’ nomadic way of life in the region where parents move from one place in search of water and pasture for their livestock, many children miss school opportunities.
On her part, the World Vision organization, children’s officer Teresa Cheptoo, said many children are out of school due to retrogressive practices of female genital mutilation (FGM) and early forced marriages.
She however said the organization is collaborating with the county government to reach children who have not had the opportunity to go to school, especially in remote areas.
“As an organization, we are working with the county government to reach children in remote areas where we have large numbers who are just at home,” she said.