Herbert Nkundizana, a teacher and Deputy Head Teacher at Cleveland Hill Primary School, says many parents no longer personally escort their children to school, leaving their safety in the hands of third parties.
“Out of every ten parents, especially in urban areas, only about 2 personally bring their children to school and hand them over to teachers. The rest rely on boda boda riders, maids, or other caretakers,” Nkundizana said.
He said the trend has increased children’s vulnerability, especially when crossing busy roads or travelling long distances to school without direct supervision from their parents or guardians.
“A parent is responsible for ensuring a child reaches school safely. When children are left with boda boda riders or maids, the risks increase because the parent is not directly monitoring their safety,” he explained.
Nkundizana noted that some children transported by boda bodas arrive at school exhausted, which affects their concentration and performance in class.
“Some children travel long distances on boda bodas or in taxis every morning. By the time they reach class, they are already tired, making it difficult for them to focus on learning,” he said.
The teacher also highlighted challenges faced after school hours, where learners are sometimes left waiting for extended periods for boda boda riders to pick them up.
“Sometimes children remain at school for a long time because the boda boda riders are delayed. They first transport other passengers before coming for the learners. This leaves children tired and inconvenienced,” he added.
Nkundizana called on parents to take a more active role in ensuring the safe movement of their children, especially young learners, and where possible, personally hand them over to school authorities.
“Parents should not just drop children near the school gate or leave them with other people. The safest option is to bring the child and hand them over directly to the teacher or school administration,” he said.
He stressed that ensuring children’s safety on the journey to and from school is a shared responsibility, but begins with parents making informed decisions about who transports and cares for their children.