Shield children from evil

The April school holidays begin this week, ending an eventful first term during which the education authorities, parents and other stakeholders have faced a number of challenges. 

They will be away for a month and return to school for a busy second term packed with co-curricular activities. The Kenya National Examinations Council will complete the registration of the candidates to sit the first-ever Kenya Junior School Education Assessment under the competency-based curriculum.

The learners are taking a break at a time when schools are grappling with inadequate infrastructure, reduced and delayed capitation, and the fee arrears.

Having the young ones at home for a whole month presents a challenge for parents to devise the means to keep them busy. During the school term, parents cede the responsibility of looking after their children to teachers and are often quite critical of their performance.

Now, the ball will be in their court, and they must keep their children not just safe, but also occupied and productive during this break. 

Of course, an idle mind is the devil’s workshop and peer pressure can lead some astray. Positive parenting requires that the children are properly taken care of. They should be helped to do their homework instead of being allowed to idle and roam around, risking getting abused.

But with a bit more care and organisation, parents and guardians need not see this break as a trying moment for them. The school holiday is, in fact, an opportunity for parents and guardians to interact and bond with their children and know them better.

The children should be given care, love and security, and protected from sex predators, drug addicts and other evil people.