LILIAN NG’ANG’A CALLS FOR BAN ON BOARDING PRIMARY SCHOOLS

Former Machakos First Lady Lilian Ng’ang’a has issued an appeal to education stakeholders and policymakers, calling for a complete ban on boarding primary schools across the country. 

She argues that primary education should be exclusively day-based to allow parents and guardians to actively participate in the guidance and upbringing of their children during their formative years.

According to Ng’ang’a, boarding arrangements should only begin at the secondary school level, when children are mature enough and possess the necessary independence to care for themselves. She said that younger learners require daily parental presence to shape their values, emotional well-being, and overall character development.

“The primary school years are critical for instilling discipline, cultural values, and emotional security,” Ng’ang’a noted. “Removing children from their families at such a tender age denies them the opportunity to grow under the direct influence of parents, who play an irreplaceable role in molding responsible future citizens.“

Her remarks have reignited a national conversation about the psychological and social effects of early boarding on children. Many parents and education experts are weighing in on whether separating young learners from their home environments does more harm than good.

One social media user, responding to Ng’ang’a’s proposal, shared a personal perspective, “I think generally children shouldn’t be separated from their parents or community. This separation is a Western concept that has created other issues, loneliness, disconnect, and even mental illnesses. Education is holistic. By placing kids in boarding schools, we’re removing them from where life is happening into a controlled environment.”

The user, who attended a Catholic boarding primary school, added, “The sisters were fairly hands-on, but the disconnection from parents and community wasn’t lost on me. I had to play catch up later. Children in boarding schools are really brought up by their peers, as teachers just teach and enforce discipline. So all in all, I’m against.”