Mvita Member of Parliament Mohamed Soud Machele has announced strict measures against private schools operating below approved education standards within the constituency, warning that such institutions will be closed from next year.
The legislator said his position has been misunderstood, clarifying that he does not oppose private education but is focused on protecting children from poor-quality learning environments.
“Any private school that does not meet the required standards will not be allowed to continue operating in this constituency,” Machele said.
He encouraged parents to enrol their children in public schools, saying the government is investing in infrastructure and learning facilities to improve the quality of education in government institutions.
Machele was addressing parents and education stakeholders during the commissioning of 10 newly refurbished classrooms at Serani Primary School, funded through the National Government Constituencies Development Fund (NG-CDF).
He said restoring strong academic performance in public schools is a priority, adding that Mvita is determined to reclaim its position as a top-performing constituency.
“Our mission is to ensure public schools in Mvita deliver excellent results in national examinations,” the MP said.
Newly appointed Mombasa Deputy County Commissioner Kalume Nzovu told parents that education is essential for a child’s future and urged families to prioritise learning.
“A child without education faces lifelong disadvantage. Education is the most important investment any parent can make,” Nzovu said.
Mombasa Deputy Governor Francis Thoya said the county government remains committed to improving the learning environment in public schools across the county.
He noted that the county is also investing in sports and co-curricular programmes to support learners’ development beyond the classroom.
“We want our schools to offer not only academic excellence but also talent development and discipline-building activities,” Thoya said.
Thoya called on residents to stop engaging in blame games and instead work together to support the development of public institutions.
He added that the county government assesses national examination results annually and expressed concern over declining mean scores in some public schools.
“We are worried about the drop in performance, which could discourage parents from choosing public schools,” he said.
Mombasa County Executive Committee Member for Education and Digital Transformation Mbwarali Kame urged elected leaders and stakeholders to cooperate in restoring the county’s education standards.
He said leadership unity is necessary to deliver lasting education reforms.