Schools Ordered To Enforce Gov’t-Issued Safety Protocols To Avert Tragedies
On Friday morning, Kenya awoke to the devastating news that 17 students from Hillside Endarasha Juniour Secondary School in Nyeri County had been burned beyond recognition.
It is also reported that several others were seriously injured when a fire broke out at 3 a.m. in a dormitory at the learning institution.
Our thoughts are with the families of the children who have lost their lives in the fire tragedy at the Hillside Endarasha Academy in Nyeri County.
— William Samoei Ruto, PhD (@WilliamsRuto) September 6, 2024
This is devastating news.
We pray for speedy recovery to the survivors.
I instruct relevant authorities to thoroughly investigate…
It has since been revealed that the dormitory housed 152 boys, leaving Kenyans reeling from the potential damage that could have occurred if the fire had been more ferocious and spread to the areas where the other boys slept.
Set School Safety Measures
The Kenyan government established the Safety Standards Manual For Schools in Kenya in 2008 to prevent tragedies.
The document outlines the precautions that schools should take in various areas, including classrooms, dormitories, and social spaces, to prevent fires and other disasters.
(i) Dormitories
All school dormitories in Kenya are laid out in accordance with government policy. The space between beds should be at least 1.2 meters to allow for movement and access.
In addition, the corridor or pathway within the dormitories must be at least 2 meters wide to allow for easy movement and ensure safety in emergency situations.
Sharing beds is strictly prohibited, and admissions should always correspond to the dormitory’s bed capacity to avoid overcrowding.
Furthermore, each dormitory must have a door at each end and an emergency exit in the middle.
This emergency exit should be clearly marked with a sign reading “Emergency Exit” so that it is easily identifiable in the event of an emergency.
Dormitory doors should always be locked when students are not present in the dormitory, such as during class or sports activities.
To ensure that these doors can be opened in an emergency, the Dormitory Master/Mistress or the Dormitory Prefect should keep the keys secure.
Dormitory windows should be free of grills and open outward for easy ventilation and escape if necessary.
Each dormitory must have operational fire extinguishers at each exit and fire alarms at easily accessible locations.
Teachers and administrators should conduct regular spot checks before students go to bed to ensure that all safety measures are in place and functioning properly.
To improve safety and security, an accurate roll call should be conducted daily, with meticulous records kept.
To monitor the dormitory, school security personnel or authorized security staff must conduct regular patrols. Visitors should not be allowed inside the dormitory to ensure security.
Hygiene standards must be inspected on alternate days to ensure that living conditions are sanitary.
Additionally, bunk beds must be sturdy and equipped with side grills to prevent younger students from falling off while sleeping.
(ii) School’s Mandate
A School Safety Committee is directly responsible for overseeing school safety, which is critical for maintaining a safe learning environment.
Each School Management Committee or Board of Governors is required to form a dedicated subcommittee to oversee school safety effectively.
This subcommittee is responsible for implementing safety measures and ensuring that all safety protocols are followed.
The committee’s membership is intended to represent a wide range of perspectives and expertise in order to address safety comprehensively.
The committee is also responsible for mobilizing the resources needed to create a safe, secure, and nurturing environment for students, staff, and parents.
This resource mobilization ensures that the school has the tools and support it requires to maintain high safety standards.
The committee is responsible for informing students, parents, and other stakeholders about school safety policies and implementation activities.
Schools Ordered To Enforce Gov’t-Issued Safety Protocols To Avert Tragedies
