Leaders in Malindi Sub County, Kilifi County are demanding the arrest of parents who fail to take their children to school.
The leaders said this during the distribution of school fees cheques from the Kilifi County Ward Scholarship Fund worth Sh. 4,665,700 to 700 students from Ganda ward.
Led by Ganda ward Member of County Assembly (MCA) Oscar Wanje, the leaders said that many parents had become negligent of their children hence they were interfering with the 100 per cent transition rate propagated by the national government.
The ministry of Interior and that of Education has ordered the National Government Administration Officers (NGAO) to crack down on parents violating the 100 transition policy.
Mr Wanje cautioned parents in his ward that he will not come to the rescue of parents arrested for failing to take their children to school.
“There is a circular from the national government that all children should go to school whether they have no school fees or uniform and I will not come to rescue you if you violate the directives. Let all children with school fee problems be brought to my office so that I can assist them join school because I will talk to school heads over the matter,” he said.
He also said that his office received Sh. 4,850,000 while Sh. 150,000 remained at the scholarship fund board as administrative fees.
Nominated MCA Betty Kache said that the government needed to arrest some parents to act as an example to those who despise the national government directive.
“I want it to be implemented so that if two or three parents are arrested it will act as an example to those who like breaking the law because we want all our children to attend school and be responsible adults in future,” she said.
Mr Salim Ibrahim, a parent from Kijiwetanga village whose daughter benefited from the scholarship said that he supports the government’s directive but urged school heads to adhere to the directive.
He however, said that the economic situation was hitting hard on parents and many were unable to raise money for school fees.
“I will be one of those crusaders for all children to go to school and I will carry out door to door campaigns in my village to ensure all children are in school,” he said.
His sentiments were echoed by Mr Dominic Juma Kiraho who was unable to take her two daughters to high school but finally benefitted from the bursary fund.
Mr Kiraho said that parents were grappling with unemployment, high cost of living and lack of resources and many children were yet to join school.
“The financial situation among parents is wanting and I request that this scholarship funds be increased so that many more students can benefit,” he said.
At least 18 students from the 700 beneficiaries were awarded full scholarships from the fund.
