Green Field School in Migadini, Changamwe area, was closed by Education Cabinet Secretary Prof George Magoha (pictured) during an impromptu visit to the school/CFM
MOMBASA, Kenya, Sep 27 –A school in Mombasa was Friday shut down by the Ministry of Education for exposing over 440 pupils to danger.
Green Field School in Migadini, Changamwe area, was closed by Education Cabinet Secretary Prof George Magoha during an impromptu visit to the school.
Magoha said the double storey building housing classrooms built on weak iron sheet structures, timber and metal rods was a disaster in waiting.
“That school has weak structures even than those we’ve closed in Nairobi. We are therefore, shutting down the Green Field School,” said Magoha.
Green Field School becomes a fourth school to be closed in the country since the Monday’s accident in Nairobi’s Precious Talents Academy located along Ngong Road where eight pupils were killed after a classroom collapsed on the student during the morning preps.
Magoha, who is on a nationwide tour to inspect the status of school buildings in the country said the Director of Green Field School had asked for some time to change the structure.
“The School Director has asked us to give them time to rectify the problem, but I cannot allow that to happen with my children underneath. Therefore, that school shall remained closed,” said Magoha.
He directed the 440 pupils of that school will be absorbed at the nearby Umoja Primary School, a public institution.
“The Umoja primary school is big enough, has enough water and has excess capacity. Those pupils should be brought here, and they should be given any kind of assistance required,” said Magoha.
He added that the 33 class-eight candidates of Green Field School should be given priority at Umoja Primary School.
“They will come here as a block; they should be given top priority. They must take exams without any problem,” he said.
Green Field School becomes a fourth school to be closed in the country since the Monday’s accident in Nairobi’s Precious Talents Academy located along Ngong Road where eight pupils were killed after a classroom collapsed on the student during the morning preps/CFM
Benson Otieno Ochieng, the Director of Green Field School, said the school had been given a three-month grace period to rectify their mistakes.
“The CS has given us a three-month grace period to rectify the structures. Come January, we’ll be back in business,” said Ochieng.
Ochieng said he was afraid the class eight candidates will be affected by the relocation to other school following the Magoha’s directive.
“I’m worried the performance of our candidates will be affected by this sudden relocation,” he said.
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