Boarding schools have in the recent past faced some attacks from certain quarters. While these schools have challenges unique to them, their overall merits may outweigh their demerits.
Boarding schools teach students Independence and since students spent much of their time far away from the familiar faces of their parents and relatives, they are forced to learn how to cooperate and live together with others. In this sense, boarding schools are kind of rite of passage to prepare teenagers and children for the realities of the real world. The rot in such schools could thus be only a reflection of the society that we live in. Closing the boarding schools shall offer no solution then.
As a nation that has religious, racial, social, economic and tribal diversity, we need to embrace and enhance institutions that encourage integration and mutual cooperation and understanding between diverse groups! And what other place than a boarding school? Where else can national cohesion and understanding can be taught better? Boarding schools facilitate mix up of students from different backgrounds and regions (read tribes/religion) and this encourages togetherness and national cohesion. When a Luo student studies in say, Makueni, they will be exposed to a different culture and this helps eliminate stereotypes that are common among the unlearned and unexposed.
Boarding schools act as a melting pot for culture and nationhood. They also act as an equalizer for students coming from poor and rich families. Since in this case, all students use the same facilities and resources, it’s much easier to fairly gauge their abilities. Consider a day school where in many instances the students from poor homes may even sleep hungry or may even not afford textbooks as compared to their rich counterparts. In a boarding school, students share resources, and the environment and circumstances allow them to borrow and share anything.
Boarding schools should be allowed to coexist with day schools.
Liberty and freedom to choose should prevail.
Enacting legislations to abolish boarding schools shall only proof to be detrimental to the country and society as a whole. It will affect the economy negatively and slow down efforts towards national cohesion. It will adversely affect students from poor families.
