It’s 8:00 am and schools have resumed. The frenzy is high in the air as students eagerly chatter about how they're thrilled to be back to school, catching up with their classmates.

Usually, by this time you’d expect students to be starting their first lesson. But at Muslim Primary School in Nakuru West sub-county, things are different.

Mtaa Wangu finds desks outside some of the classrooms with children mopping what was left from the storm water during the holidays.

Some of the students in Muslim primary clean their classrooms which were flooded from the rains witnessed during the school holiday.

Photo credit: LELETI JASSOR/MTAA WANGU

Edna Kapsowe, Head Teacher Muslim Primary School, says usually during opening days they are settled but learners were welcomed back to cleaning the flooded classrooms and hoped to finish and embark on teaching and learning.

“The enrolment is not 100 percent as most of the parents were affected by the recent flash floods and are still adjusting. We hope that affected parents will settle as soon as possible so that they have their children resume school. As of now, those who have resumed are ready to learn and the teachers are ready to teach,” she continues.

She adds that with the flash floods, they encountered a bit of loss and are taking every precautionary measure to ensure the safety of the learners.

“Due to the storm water some of the student’s desks were soaked in water and we will be assessing them for repair. For the foodstuff that was affected, we have discarded part of it and for the remaining food supplies we shall liaise with officials from public health to determine if they are safe for consumption,” she adds.

She observed that they had been instructed by the sub-county director of education to be vigilant about the rainy weather and to dismiss the students earlier than usual to ensure their safety.

One of the students at Muslim primary school puts on his socks after cleaning the classrooms on May 13,2024.

Photo credit: LELETI JASSOR/MTAA WANGU

At Mother Kevin Primary School, upon arrival, it is evident that learning and teaching are proceeding as usual. However, the head teacher remarks that the number of students who have returned is at 80 percent.

Sister Nancy, in charge of Mother Kevin School in Nakuru West, notes that while there was minimal damage in their school, she is concerned about the safety of the students while using the route near the Ndarugu River.

“We have communicated to the learners about the importance of their safety during this rainy season as most of them come from the other side of the Ndarugu River (Ng’ambo). We’ve also told them to avoid the lower route and access the upper route while going home and this will also be communicated to their parents to ensure that their children are safe.”

She notes the attendance has been attributed to the roads affected by floods and thus their school bus was unable to pick up the students residing in Ng’ambo.

"We want to believe that with time everything will be done well by the member of parliament to make sure that our roads are okay and accessible to all our learners," she concludes.

Flooded classrooms, wet desks, delay learning for Muslim primary students

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Leleti Jassor