The parents living in Mukuru slums in Nairobi want the government to build more public schools in the area as soon as possible. They say there are not enough schools, and this has resulted in many children who are not going to school because of lack of school fees.
At the moment, there are only two public schools in Mukuru. The entire constituency of Embakasi South has only seven public schools. The numbers, the residents say, are too low to serve the rapidly growing population.
Due to the lack of choices, many children are compelled to attend costly private schools. In such schools, the high tuition fees have resulted in a large number of children who cannot continue with their studies.
The situation has made some students easily accessible to criminals and drug addicts. “The government must act without delay. Our children have a right to education, but they are being denied access because we cannot afford the high fees in private schools,” a parent said. Rising school dropout rates are attributed to poverty and insufficient schools.
In the Embakasi South area, schoolchildren are going to church for education. This is just one example demonstrating the severity of the crisis. Local people allege that giving access to free and cheap education is the only long-term way out of the crisis.
They urge the Ministry of Education to take the initiative to build more public schools in Mukuru to help with the dire situation.
