Ezekiel Mutua Links School Unrests to Harmful Content Students are Exposed to on TV

Former Kenya Films Classification Board (KFCB) CEO Ezekiel Mutua has weighed in on the recent trend of schools being set on fire in the country.

The ex-KFCB boss who spoke during an interview with Hot 96 FM on Wednesday, November 10, 2021, urged all education stakeholders including parents, teachers, and relevant authorities to double down on guiding and advising the learners.

Mutua further alleged that the recent trend of unrest by students in schools is a result of the harmful material they are exposed to on television and a reflection of the society they live in.

"Our kids are on social media and they are being influenced by a lot of forces that are coming from across the globe with content that has violence, war, vulgarity, horror including the play stations," he said.

The former KFCB CEO further claimed that the unrest is being experienced due to the poor education structures used in the running of schools.

He noted that while the recently introduced Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC) education system is good, it is yet to be fully implemented.

"The CBC system is important but also character development is equally important. We have done very well as a country in transforming the hardware but we have forgotten the software. There is no discipline and our children are emulating what they watch in the media as leaders are insulting one another," Mutua stated.

He suggested that regulators be well-equipped and well-funded in order to help mitigate the country's deteriorating situation.

"The unrest in schools, the runaway morality and corruption in our country during this electioneering campaigns, we need a strong and well-funded regulator. The KFCB, Media Council of Kenya, Communications Authority of Kenya and the IEBC need to work together," Mutua said.

Over the recent weeks, several schools have reported fire incidents while some have been forced to close and suspend learning activities.