CS Machogu wants tree planting to be part of school competition

By Robert Mutasi

The Ministry of Education has suggested tree planting exercises to be part of schools' competition list. 

All primary and secondary schools are asked to take part in the tree nursery and tree planting countrywide.

While speaking in Siaya County on Wednesday,Cabinet Secretary for Education Ezekiel Machogu has urged principals and primary heads of schools to implement the program. 

CS Machogu has stated that despite the fact that schools focus mostly on academics but is also good for learners to participate in environment conservation.

According to the CS,they are going to give upper tree planting activities as it is on academics

"Educational institutions,all primary schools in the country,all secondary schools in the country have said principals of schools one of the areas which is going to appear in your performance contracting is tree nurseries and the planting and the growing of trees,"he explained.

"We want competition in that and we will even be ranking in performance in matters of academics,we are going to have competition,"CS Machogu added.

On the other hand he has argued that educational institutions have enough land where tree nurseries and planting should take place.

Since learners should take a paramount role in planting trees,Machogu noted that there will be no challenges in human capital.

In his speech he has urged students together with teachers to commit to planting trees and not only focusing on academics.

Tree planting program is one of the Kenya Kwanza governments under President William Ruto,aims to plant 15 billion trees by 2032,and will work to reduce greenhouse emissions,stop and reverse deforestation.

President William Ruto vowed to to combat climate change by planting 5 billion trees in the next five years and 10 billion in ten years. 

The initiative will aid in combating the ravaging drought that has put lots of lives at risk and will increase the level of rainfall.