NPA Backs Learner
By Jeff Kizzilah Digital EditorThe National Parents Association (NPA) has thrown its weight behind the recent remarks by Education Principal Secretary Prof. Julius Bitok, emphasizing that listening to learners is critical in preventing school unrest, strengthening discipline, and creating safer learning environments.
NPA National Chairman Mr. Silas David Obuhatsa
Speaking to the media, NPA National Chairman Mr. Silas David Obuhatsa applauded Prof. Bitok’s address to students at The Kenya High School, noting that the message extended beyond a single institution and served as a timely reminder to parents, teachers, school managers, and all education stakeholders.
“Learners are human beings with genuine concerns, aspirations, and challenges. They must be given an opportunity to be heard whenever issues arise. Listening to learners does not weaken authority; it strengthens trust, promotes discipline, and helps identify problems before they escalate into crises,” said Mr. Obuhatsa.
The Association observed that many incidents of student unrest witnessed in schools across the country stem from unresolved grievances relating to welfare, safety, poor living conditions, bullying, academic pressure, ineffective communication, and unfair disciplinary measures.
According to the NPA, students rarely engage in strikes or demonstrations without underlying concerns. In many cases, school disturbances are symptoms of failures by institutions to establish effective communication channels through which learners can safely express their views and receive timely responses.
The Association further noted that several tragic incidents involving destruction of property, injuries, and loss of life could have been prevented if concerns relating to school safety, dormitory conditions, food quality, mental health, and student welfare had been addressed promptly.
To strengthen school safety and improve educational outcomes, the NPA is calling on teachers, parents, and school administrators to establish structured platforms that allow learners to raise concerns openly and constructively. The Association believes such engagement will improve trust, strengthen school-community relations, and create early warning systems capable of preventing conflicts.
The NPA also cautioned against the tendency to place blanket blame on the Ministry of Education whenever incidents of school unrest occur. While the Ministry provides policy direction and oversight, the Association emphasized that successful implementation of education policies requires collaboration among school managers, Boards of Management, teachers, parents, learners, and county education officials.
Similarly, the Association stated that neither the Education Principal Secretary nor the Cabinet Secretary for Education should automatically be held responsible for every school strike, noting that many incidents result from failures at the institutional level where grievances are ignored and warning signs overlooked.
The NPA further stressed that accountability for school safety must extend across all levels of implementation. Kenya already has comprehensive school safety policies and guidelines, but inadequate enforcement, poor supervision, and failure to conduct regular monitoring have left learners exposed to avoidable risks.
Consequently, the Association is urging the Ministry of Education, the Teachers Service Commission, Boards of Management, school managers, and county education officials to strengthen enforcement of the School Safety Standards Manual through regular inspections, compliance audits, and prompt corrective action.
The NPA also called on the Ministry of Education to strengthen engagement with the National Parents Association as the country’s recognized body for parental engagement and empowerment in the education sector. The Association believes stronger collaboration between government and parents will enhance trust, promote meaningful dialogue with learners, and help establish effective early warning mechanisms within schools.
The Association reaffirmed that meaningful partnerships among government, parents, teachers, and learners are essential for successful education reforms, improved discipline, and safer learning environments.
Finally, the NPA echoed President William Ruto’s call for the nurturing of national values among young people, emphasizing that the foundation of integrity, responsibility, discipline, patriotism, accountability, and peaceful coexistence begins at home.
“Parents remain the first teachers and mentors of their children. Schools can only reinforce values that are first cultivated within families,” the Association stated.
The National Parents Association therefore calls upon all stakeholders to embrace active listening, meaningful dialogue, parental involvement, learner participation, and collective responsibility as the most sustainable path toward safer schools, stronger institutions, and better educational outcomes for all learners in Kenya.
ENDS
