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Some 22 private primary schools have been closed down in Kisumu county as the government intensifies a crackdown on unregistered institutions and with poor infrastructure.

County Director of Education Isaac Atebe said the decision to close the institutions was reached by a multi-agency team comprising Ministry of  Education, Public works, Interior ministry and Teachers Service Commission (TSC) officials after an assessment.

He said an audit by the team also established that teachers in the schools were not qualified and not registered with the TSC.

“The schools failed to meet basic education requirements particularly on registration for them to operate legally,” said Atebe, adding that parents have been advised to relocate their affected children to nearby public and private schools. 

While Atebe said officers from government agencies will continue with the inspection in all the sub-counties to establish the status of schools safety.

Safety guidelines

Education Cabinet secretary George Magoha gave a deadline of October 25 for schools to comply with minimum safety guidelines, promising that after which action will be taken against those that fail to cooperate.

Those targeted in the crackdown are unregistered schools; those with dilapidated structures and institutions that have exceeded their enrollment capacities.