James Momanyi, Noah Cheploen and Kennedy Kariuki @PeopleDailyKe
More than 100 members of the civil society have asked Education Cabinet secretary Fred Matiang’i to crack the whip on school heads defying changes initiated by the ministry to sanitise the sector.
The changes have largely been blamed on the current unrest that has seen over 100 schools set ablaze. Speaking at a press briefing after meeting the CS and his Principal Secretary Dr Belio Kipsang, the non-governmental organisations, under the umbrella of Elimu Yetu Coalition (EYC), said non-adherence to school guidelines and resistance to reforms by school-heads and teachers is one of the reasons behind the burning of schools.
“The schools have not been adhering to government guidelines like those that banned mock exams, set school reporting times, teaching hours and holiday tuition. These are some of the things putting pressure on children. Furthermore, teachers have resisted reforms initiated by the ministry, for instance, those requiring them to be accountable on the resources allocated to them and being present in school.
We have asked the CS to ensure that these reforms are adhered to,” said national coordinator of EYC Janet Muthoni Ouko. The organisations also supported the ministry’s stand of not closing schools until the second term is over arguing that such a measure will precipitate similar actions in future.
“As the ministry has already said, only a few of the over 9,200 secondary schools have been affected so we shouldn’t panic,” said Daniel Wesonga of EYC. The group asked the ministry to fast-track the formation of parents associations to help address challenges in schools.
On how to avoid unrest, the group asked the ministry to initiate broader reforms of policies, including those touching on Special Needs Education and school safety so as to increase effectiveness of the governance of education. They also rooted for student participation in decision-making.
“Child participation should be genuine and not a cosmetic process. The ministry should ensure students are involved in democratising the school,” he said. Elsewhere, Deputy President William Ruto has said the government will not be blackmailed by cartels behind exam cheating and stealing of school funds.
Speaking in Bahati constituency in Nakuru county, Ruto said those unhappy with the accountability measures introduced by the government were behind the chaos that have rocked public schools.
“I want to tell them that they are chasing the wind because we will not be blackmailed when it comes to matters of education will stand firm,” he said. More than 100 public secondary schools have been closed after dormitories and other structures were set ablaze by students. Consequently, property worth millions of shillings has been destroyed.
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