Students will be taught disaster management to reduce the number of deaths in Kenyan schools.

The Ministry of Education will soon issue a circular to schools countrywide directing the managements to give safety tips to students to avert disasters.

Education permanent secretary James ole Kiyiapi said deaths in schools could be avoided if the students were taught disaster management.

The PS said the circular would require that by next year, it would be mandatory for every school to give new students safety tips, including making them understand their school environment.

Speaking at Kisii and Itierio High schools, where a student was electrocuted and dormitories razed, the PS termed the incidents unfortunate and directed the school management to prioritise the safety of learners.

Addressing students at Kisii High School, Prof Kiyiapi said the electrocution of Joshua Gichana, 18, last week, was an indication that something needed to be done to avert such incidents.

The PS directed the school principal, Mr Edward Onwong’a, to demolish the dormitory in which the student was electrocuted.

“We can’t afford losing such young people just because of simple mistakes. The safety of the learners must be given top priority,” the PS said.

“We need to give safety tips to the learners because the majority have no knowledge of what to do in case of a disaster. The ministry is devising ways on how to avert such calamities,” he said.

At Itierio, the PS asked the school management to embrace dialogue with the learners to avert trouble. In reference to Itierio and Endarasha High schools, he directed that all dormitories with grilled windows be redesigned.

“As a safety measure, in case of fire outbreaks in schools, I am directing the schools to remove all grills from windows in dormitories because the windows are important escape routes in case of a tragedy,” he said.