The Ministry of Education has announced the closure of the boarding sections of 348 schools across the country.
According to a circular dated November 27, this decision was reached following an assessment exercise of all boarding schools in September and October.
“An assessment exercise to establish the status of compliance to safety standards for all boarding primary schools in the country was carried out in the months of September and October 2024,” part of the statement read.
“A total of Three Hundred and Forty Eighty (348) schools of those assessed were consequently NOT approved to host boarding learners.”
The circular was addressed to Regional Directors of Education, County Directors of Education, and Sub-County Directors of Education, and they were tasked with ensuring that the schools listed in their jurisdiction do not reopen their boarding sections for the 2025 academic year.
“The purpose of this circular therefore is to direct you to close down the boarding sections of all schools within your jurisdiction that were not approved as per the attached list,” read the memo.
The 348 schools were earmarked for closure for various reasons including grossly contravening the provisions of the Safety Standards Manual for Schools in Kenya (2008).
Others were found to not have adhered to the standards as prescribed in the Registration Guidelines for Basic Education Institutions (2021).
However, schools looking to reopen can reapply for accreditation upon reassessment as the statement reads, “Re-opening of the boarding sections should strictly be upon a re-registration process.”
As schools are set to reopen on January 6 for the first term, the commissioners have also been directed to provide timely notifications to all parents for necessary preparations.
“You are required to ensure that affected parents are informed in good time for them to make alternative arrangements for their children,” the statement read.