Dozens of Early Childhood Development Education (ECDE) pupils at Kakitetei Village in Napeitom are being forced to attend lessons under a tree due to a severe lack of classrooms. Photos shared by their teacher, Mr. Moses Ekaale, show the young learners sitting in the open, fully exposed to intense heat, dust, and strong winds that frequently disrupt their learning.
“The current environment is not safe for young children,” Mr. Ekaale said. “We are relocating to a new site, and we welcome well-wishers to help us build a dignified place for these kids to learn.”
While the local community has successfully identified a piece of land for a new school, they completely lack the funds required to construct classrooms and other essential facilities. According to Mr. Ekaale, the proposed school urgently needs permanent or semi-permanent classrooms, desks, toilets, clean water, and secure fencing.
He emphasizes that establishing proper infrastructure would dramatically improve both school attendance and overall learning outcomes.
Local parents and residents echo these concerns, noting that the absence of proper classrooms actively discourages children from attending school, particularly during periods of extreme heat or heavy rain. Education experts support their worries, noting that safe classrooms, proper sanitation, and accessible water are critical for cognitive and social development in early childhood, directly impacting a child’s long-term academic performance.
In response to the crisis, Mr. Ekaale has launched an appeal to the Turkana County Government, the Ministry of Education, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), faith-based groups, corporates, and individual donors to partner with the community.
The situation at Kakitetei highlights a much wider challenge faced by remote schools across Turkana County, where historical infrastructure deficits continue to limit access to quality education.
Despite the challenges, community members remain hopeful that with external support, their children will soon have safe classrooms to learn in with dignity.
