Education Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i’s name has been on everyone’s lips after he announced KCPE and KCSE examination results in record time — which was attributed to reforms that he outlined in May last year.
Around the time the reforms were announced, there were more than 100 arson attacks in schools across the country.
Most students from the affected schools said that was an attempt at drawing attention to their grievances — such as overly-strict school rules, poor diet, teacher transfers and lack of opportunity for dialogue between them and school heads.
This drastic action appeared to be a cry for help and an indication of the lack of coping mechanisms by the youth.