The Lower Eastern Times Opening The Third Eye
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By: Rose Murimi, Jewel Technical College
For generations, schools have been regarded as safe havens where children grow intellectually, socially, and morally. Parents once believed that once a child walked through the school gate, they were secure and protected.
There was deep trust in the education system, and schools were seen as disciplined spaces where order and respect prevailed.
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Today, however, that sense of certainty appears to be fading. Rising cases of bullying, violence, drug abuse, and emotional distress among learners have sparked serious debate about whether schools remain as safe as they once were.
In earlier times, schools operated within a framework of firm discipline and strong moral guidance. Teachers were highly respected authority figures, and their word carried weight both inside and outside the classroom.
Students were generally more cautious about misbehavior because consequences were clear and immediate. Communities also played a vital role in safeguarding schools, and parents were closely involved in their children’s conduct and academic life. Exposure to drugs, crime, and dangerous influences was limited, and cases of severe bullying or violence were far less visible than they are today.
The modern school environment presents a far more complicated picture. While education systems have expanded and technology has enhanced access to knowledge, new risks have emerged. Students today face different forms of bullying, including online harassment that follows them beyond school grounds.
Drug and substance abuse has become a growing concern in some institutions, and reports of sexual harassment and insecurity have shaken public confidence. At the same time, mental health struggles among learners have become more visible, with many students battling anxiety, depression, and stress that affect both their safety and academic performance.
The contrast between the past and the present suggests that while earlier schools emphasized discipline and collective responsibility, today’s institutions are navigating freedom, technological influence, and external social pressures that are harder to control.
Monitoring student welfare has become more complex, and the protective shield that communities once provided does not always feel as strong. This shift does not necessarily mean that the past was perfect, but it does highlight how the nature of threats to student safety has evolved.
Education should always provide a secure foundation for young people. As challenges grow more complicated, the responsibility to protect learners must also adapt.
Ultimately, safeguarding students requires renewed commitment from schools, families, communities, and policymakers to ensure that learning environments remain places of growth rather than fear.
