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The persistence of hunger and Domestic violence in families have been blamed for the existence of Mental health that has affected the education system in Kaberamaido district.

This is according to Alweyo Molly Monnicah, an education officer in charge of guidance and counselling under Kaberamaido district local government.

She states that about 20% of the learners are often absent from school due to mental health challenges that have been ignored for  a very long time.

Alweyo, who doubles as the acting district inspector of schools, cites an example where about 300 learners join primary one but after seven years the number reduces to 25, leaving educationists pondering where the rest of the number went.

She  narrates that other factors that lead to mental health include harsh parenting practices, lack of positive role models, unresolved trauma and emotional neglect, exposure to substance and alcohol, poverty related stress and lack of career guidance, 

Alweyo now calls for the need to train the teachers, create counseling structures, learn live skill sessions, establish peer support classes, parental and community engagement as well as regular support and monitoring for every school to be able to fight mental health and retain learners in school.

She says that this should be  beyond classroom construction since mental health interventions are at a low cost but its impact is immense if unattended to.