Cracked walls and dusty floors: Crying shame of Karima School

A biting morning wind sweeps through the cracked walls of a classroom at Karima Comprehensive School in Ndia constituency, Kirinyaga county.

Inside, a group of lower primary pupils huddle together on worn desks, trying to focus on their lessons as cold air slips through wide gaps where windows should be.

For many of the young learners, this has become a normal school day.

Parents now say the conditions are taking a toll on the children’s health, comfort and ability to learn, prompting urgent calls for leaders to intervene and improve the learning environment.

According to the parents, the classrooms used by pupils in the lower grades are in poor condition, with damaged walls, missing windows and dusty floors that leave the children exposed to harsh weather throughout the day.

During cold mornings, the situation becomes even more difficult.

“When the wind blows through the classroom, the children cannot concentrate. They sit there shivering instead of focusing on their lessons. It breaks our hearts as parents,” Parents and Teachers Association chairperson Esther Martin said.

Esthersaid that some improvements have been made in the school, especially the renovation of several upper primary classrooms through the support of the area MP George Kariuki.

However, she added that the younger pupils who need the most protection continue to learn in dilapidated classrooms that have not been repaired.

“We appreciate the work that has already been done for the upper classes but the lower primary pupils are still left behind, yet they are the most vulnerable.”

The lack of proper infrastructure, she said, means children often endure strong winds, dust and cold temperatures while in class.

Many pupils reportedly fall sick during colder seasons, forcing them to miss lessons and affecting their academic progress.

“When the weather is cold, the children easily develop flu and coughs because the classrooms cannot shield them. It affects their health and learning.”

For some parents, the challenges go beyond the classroom walls.

Rose Wambui whose child studies at the school said the institution also lacks a reliable water supply, compromising hygiene.

“The children cannot even clean their classrooms properly because water is not always available. It becomes very difficult to maintain a healthy environment,” Wambui said.

Shesays that drilling a borehole within the school compound would greatly improve sanitation and ease the burden on pupils and teachers.

“Water is a basic need for any school. If we can get a borehole, it will make a huge difference.”

Parents have also raised concerns about the lack of electricity in some of the classrooms used by the younger pupils.

During early morning lessons, the rooms remain dim and teachers struggle to keep learners engaged.

“When the classrooms are dark, it becomes difficult for both the teacher and the children. Learning should take place in an environment where pupils can see clearly and feel comfortable,” Wambui added.

Margaret Waithera, another parent at the school, said the poor conditions are already affecting the children emotionally.

She said that many pupils leave home eager and neatly dressed for school only to return in the evening covered in dust.

“Our children go to school ready to learn but when they come back home, their uniforms are dirty and they look exhausted because of the environment they spend the day in.”

Waithera fears the situation could eventually affect the pupils’ morale and academic performance if it is not addressed soon.

Parents are now appealing to MP Kariuki, the local National Government Constituencies Development Fund committee and other stakeholders to urgently step in and rehabilitate the lower primary section of the school.

Among the priorities they hope will be addressed are the renovation of classrooms, installation of proper windows, electricity connection and drilling of a borehole to provide a steady water supply.

They believe that improving the infrastructure will not only protect the children from harsh weather but also restore dignity and hope for the young learners who attend the school each day.

For now, however, the pupils continue to sit through their lessons in the cold, waiting for the day their classrooms will finally offer them the safety and comfort every child deserves.