Parents Warn Education Standards at Risk Due to Government Neglect
The National Parents Association (NPA) has raised concerns about a potential decline in education standards due to insufficient governmental support.
The association has criticized the government for neglecting the Competency-Based Curriculum by not hiring additional Junior Secondary School (JSS) teachers or constructing the necessary classrooms and laboratories.
This warning comes as the Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) faces a looming strike, prompted by the government’s failure to implement the 2021-2025 Collective Bargaining Agreement. The union is also demanding the hiring of 20,000 intern teachers.
Eskimos Kobia, NPA Secretary General, has indicated that the current situation is creating a crisis in public schools. He mentioned that the government’s promise to build more classrooms and laboratories for JSS remains unmet, despite the allocation of Sh1 billion from the Treasury.
Impact on Students and Schools
Kobia highlighted the adverse effects on public school students, who continue to suffer due to the government’s failure to employ the promised intern teachers. He also expressed concern over the potential impact of the teachers’ strike on the new curriculum, which is already facing significant challenges.
“The most affected are students in public schools who have continued to suffer as the government fails to keep its promise of even employing the 20,000 intern teachers,” he said.
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In Naivasha, Kobia noted that the delay in releasing capitation funds has resulted in unpaid salaries for subordinate staff and withdrawal of services by suppliers. This financial strain raises concerns about students potentially missing out on food and learning materials as schools prepare to start the third term.
A senior official from the Kenya Secondary School Heads Association acknowledged ongoing issues in the education sector.
This official reported that secondary schools are struggling due to insufficient state financial support, leading to the suspension of some activities and negatively impacting education standards.
The official also mentioned experiences of intimidation and threats from senior officers in the Ministry of Education, noting that they have requested a meeting with the new Cabinet Secretary to address the crisis.
Financial Challenges for Schools
Earlier, Collins Oyuu, KNUT Secretary General, criticized the government for reducing capitation fees for senior secondary schools from Sh21,000 to Sh17,000 without providing an explanation.
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He attributed the deteriorating learning conditions to the government’s failure to release the capitation fees as mandated by law.
Oyuu added that due to the financial shortfall, school principals have been compelled to request additional levies from parents to sustain their institutions.
Parents Warn Education Standards at Risk Due to Government Neglect
