A confidential survey conducted among secondary school students in Mombasa has revealed growing concerns over learner wellbeing, substance abuse and access to mental health support, prompting county authorities to roll out new interventions.
Speaking at the 49th Annual National Conference of the Kenya Secondary School Heads Association (KESSHA), Mombasa Governor Abdulswamad Shariff Nassir said the survey was undertaken to gain a clearer understanding of the challenges facing learners in schools.
According to the governor, approximately 12,000 students responded to the questionnaire, which was designed to allow learners to share their experiences anonymously.
"We wanted to keep it confidential. Out of 30,000 students, we had 12,000 respondents. That was a very decent amount of respondents that we were able to get," Nassir said.
The findings pointed to worrying trends, including exposure to drugs and substance abuse. Nassir disclosed that 23.8 per cent of respondents reported that substances were easily accessible near their schools.
"Twenty-three point eight per cent are saying that this is something that is easily available near their school," he said.
The governor said the county government will engage education officials, community leaders and security agencies to tackle the problem and protect learners from harmful influences outside school environments.
Beyond substance abuse, the survey highlighted a strong demand for emotional and psychological support among students. Many respondents indicated they found it easier to express themselves through the anonymous survey than through existing school support channels.
"Almost all students are asking for someone to talk to," Nassir said.
To address the issue, the county plans to deploy counsellors to schools and use the survey findings to develop targeted interventions aimed at improving learner wellbeing and discipline.
"We should be proactive instead of being reactive. We should not wait for children to burn down schools before we act," he said.
Nassir added that county officials will continue analysing the data alongside education stakeholders to identify practical solutions to the challenges raised by students.
The survey findings come at a time when education stakeholders across the country are increasingly calling for greater investment in school counselling programmes, mental health services and preventive measures aimed at addressing behavioural and social challenges among learners.
