The Kenya National Union of Teachers has asked the Ministry of Education to hasten the process of posting junior secondary school teachers.
Knut Eldoret East Branch Executive Secretary Sammy Bor says over three days since Junior Secondary learners started reporting, no learning has started for a lack of teachers.
In an interview with Uasin Gishu News on February 1, 2023, Bor said there was a need for the staffing issue to be addressed with the agency to kick off learning for the Grade 7 learners.
“There is a lot of confusion in many schools – children are going to school but they are not being taught. Nothing much is happening and that is why the ministry should hasten in addressing the matter,” said the KNUT National Executive Council (NEC) member.
Leaners from Junior Secondary Schools started reporting on January 30, 2023, and the process has been ongoing smoothly.
However, the KNUT official says the government is yet to avail the textbooks for learners as well as release funds.
The government has allocated Ksh15,000 as a capitation for every Grade 7 learner.
And as more students report to their respective schools, KNUT is asking that all the challenges being witnessed now are addressed with the agency.
Textbooks
“The other point that is very critical is instructional materials. Most schools are yet to receive the textbooks but we hope they are on the way coming. And also the issue of capitation,” Bor said.
Education Cabinet Secretary Ezekiel Machogu on January 27, 2023, flagged off the distribution of textbooks for Junior Secondary Schools across the country.
He said the process would go on between January 30 and February 17, 2023.
“Every learner will receive one textbook for core subjects and optional subjects they will choose,” the CS said during the event held at the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (KICD).
“The process targets all the schools that have been identified to host Junior Secondary school after the conclusion of the recent assessment by the Ministry,” he added.
But as the schools await the posting of teachers and the arrival of textbooks, the teachers union insists Junior Secondary School issue – the first under the Competency Based Curriculum (CBC) must be handled with care.
“This issue of junior secondary school, if not handled well, it will be very catastrophic,” cautioned the KNUT official.
