PS Bitok orders immediate audit of all boarding schools amid unrest
By Cynthia Lodite, June 7, 2026Basic Education Principal Secretary Julius Bitok has directed a national audit of boarding school facilities to ensure compliance with safety standards as more schools continue sending students home over unrest.
Speaking on Saturday, June 6, 2026, Bitok explained that the government is working strategically to contain the unrest situation witnessed across the country.
“As a government, we are doing everything possible to contain the situation, we have directed a national audit for the next ten days for all our boarding schools to ensure they meet the safety standards,” Bitok stated.
On his part, Bitok announced that at least one thousand quality assurance officers had been flagged to go to various schools in the country to support in containing the unrest.
“In addition to that, we have deployed 1000 quality assurance officers around the schools to support in containing this unrest in our schools,” he stated.
Additionally, the principal secretary has called on stakeholders to collaborate closely with security agencies in fostering dialogue among teachers, school administrators, and students, emphasising engagement and communication as key strategies for preventing further unrest in schools.
School mid-term break debate
Bitok’s remarks come a day after he ruled out the possibility of an early second-term midterm break despite a recent wave of unrest in secondary schools across the country.
According to Principal Secretary Julius Bitok, learning remains largely uninterrupted in most schools, with only a small fraction of institutions affected by the disturbances.
He explained that the ministry’s data shows that approximately 0.8 per cent of schools have experienced unrest, meaning there is no justification for altering the official academic calendar.
“We have no plans for an unscheduled closure of schools. Learning is continuing normally in 99 per cent of our schools, while only around 0.8 per cent have experienced challenges. Our focus is on addressing issues in the affected institutions while ensuring that all learners continue with their education without disruption,” said Bitok.
At the time, the Education PS acknowledged that examination-related pressure has emerged as one of the contributing factors to tensions in some schools, urging principals to adopt a more flexible and supportive approach in addressing students’ concerns.
“We are not saying students should not sit examinations, especially county-based mock exams. However, if learners express anxiety or indicate they are not ready, there is no point in forcing them. It is better to postpone a test than risk having an institution burnt down,” he said.