Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Nairobi (Agenzia Fides) – The Bishops of Kenya have expressed their “grave concern at the wave of violence and unrest in secondary schools” (see Fides 23/7/2008) in a Message signed by Bishop Maurice Anthony Crowley of Kitale, Chairman of the Bishops’ Commission for Education.
“This unrest is not confined to any particular part of the country, it is a national problem,” the statement reads. “The extent of violence and destruction of property is a clear sign of how much our society has deteriorated in values and sense of responsibility.”
The Kenyan Bishops’ Conference express their closeness and support to the family of Abdi Noor, a student who died in a fire in the dormitory of Upper Hill High School, as he tried to rescue one of his classmates. Calling the act, “courageous,” the Bishops said, “may his soul Rest in Peace.”
The Bishops state that there are various factors that have triggered the students’ frustration: the trauma experienced by the country during the recent ethnic disturbances; a lack of political responsibility - students are imitating what the adults and their parents did in January and February this year during the post-election violence; lack of religious and pastoral influences in some schools; lack of moral and value formation; lack of a spirit of forgiveness and tolerance; lack of parental guidance and control: the contact hours between children and their parents are few as many parents do not want them at home; discontent because students feel they do not belong to the community; students have little or no time at all to socialize with other students; an exam-oriented curriculum which considers those who have failed exams useless; fear and uncertainty of unemployment in the future; the spread of drug abuse.
The Message offers several suggestions for overcoming this situation, recalling firstly that it is a responsibility of every person (parents, teachers, students, politicians, mass media, etc.). The Bishops are calling for a one year suspension for the students responsible for the violence, banning cellular phones from schools (a measure that has been adopted by the government) as they were used by the youth in coordinating the attacks, and asking the media not to focus so much attention on the news of the attack, so as not to foster imitation of the acts. There are some in the country who are asking for a reintroduction of corporal punishment. The Bishops say they are against this kind of solution.
The wave of violence does not seem to abate: in addition to the public schools are several private high schools that are in revolt. Some of these are Catholic schools. The police has confirmed the arrest of some 70 students, including young women. (LM) (Agenzia Fides 24/7/2008)
