Parents have been urged to closely supervise their children during the upcoming long school holiday to protect them from harmful cultural practices, including Female Genital Mutilation (FGM).
Speaking during a graduation ceremony for Grade 9 and Grade 6 learners at Kwa Ng’ethe Primary School, the guest speaker, Pastor Rev Humphrey mwilu, expressed concern that some parents send their children to rural areas without adequate supervision, exposing them to practices such as FGM without their knowledge.
Mwilu urged parents to maintain regular communication with their children, understand their behavioural patterns and monitor the company they keep. She warned that leaving children unsupervised during the holiday could expose them to dangers that may only become apparent when schools reopen in January.
He, however, encouraged parents to use the holiday period to strengthen family relationships by spending quality time with their children, discussing their academic progress and addressing their emotional and social well-being.
The ceremony celebrated 357 Grade 9 learners transitioning to senior school and 264 Grade 6 pupils, with Nginyo saying the institution had prepared the learners for the next stage of their educational journey under the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC).
She said the graduation ceremony was intended to boost learners’ confidence and recognise their achievements while motivating them to pursue higher academic goals.
Nginyo cited the case of a learner who had stayed away from school for nearly a year but eventually returned, sat for examinations and performed well, saying the experience demonstrated the inclusive nature of the CBC system and its emphasis on individual learner progress.
The headteacher also highlighted infrastructure challenges facing the school, which has an average of 87 learners per classroom. She said government support had helped provide adequate teaching staff, while capitation funds had been used to construct additional classrooms and toilets, with further assistance from the Safaricom Foundation.
She expressed optimism that the early disbursement of capitation funds promised by the government would enable the school to expand its infrastructure next year. She also appealed to organisations and well-wishers to support the construction of additional classrooms and sanitation facilities.
Nginyo reaffirmed the school’s commitment to academic excellence and co-curricular activities, including music and drama, under its motto of producing game changers.
Learners wore graduation gowns during the ceremony, an initiative Nginyo said was designed to inspire them to envision their future academic journey from senior school to university and eventually doctoral studies.
