By Staff Reporter
Education officials in Kaberamaido District have raised concern over the growing impact of hunger and domestic violence on learners’ mental health, warning that the situation is negatively affecting school attendance and retention.
Alweyo Molly Monnicah, an education officer in charge of guidance and counselling under the Kaberamaido District Local Government, said the persistence of these challenges in many families has contributed significantly to mental health problems among learners.
According to Alweyo, about 20 percent of learners frequently miss school due to mental health challenges, many of which have gone unaddressed for a long time.
Alweyo, who also serves as the Acting District Inspector of Schools, explained that the problem has contributed to a worrying decline in learner retention in primary schools.
She cited an example where about 300 pupils enroll in Primary One, but after seven years only around 25 learners remain to complete Primary Seven, leaving education officials questioning what happens to the majority of learners who drop out along the way.
The education officer explained that several underlying factors contribute to mental health challenges among learners. These include harsh parenting practices, lack of positive role models, unresolved trauma, emotional neglect, exposure to alcohol and substance abuse, poverty-related stress, and lack of career guidance.
She emphasized that addressing these challenges requires more than building classrooms and expanding physical infrastructure in schools.
Alweyo is now calling for comprehensive mental health interventions within schools to help support learners and improve retention.
Among the measures she proposed are training teachers in basic counselling skills, establishing school counselling structures, introducing life-skills education sessions, and creating peer support groups among learners.
She also stressed the importance of greater parental and community engagement, as well as regular monitoring and support systems within schools to help identify and assist learners facing mental health challenges.
According to Alweyo, these interventions are relatively low-cost but have a significant impact if properly implemented.
She warned that ignoring mental health issues among learners could continue to undermine education progress in Kaberamaido District, urging stakeholders in the education sector to prioritize the well-being of learners alongside academic development.
