NAIROBI, Kenya, Apr 15 – The Kenya
National Union of Teachers (KNUT) has accused Education Cabinet Secretary Jacob
Kaimenyi of deceit over his claims that he extensively consulted stakeholders
before gazetting the regulations governing Basic Education.
Speaking to reporters during a press
conference on Wednesday, Secretary General Wilson Sossion stated that
discussions were ongoing before Kaimenyi decided to jump the gun and emphasized
the need for the CS to revoke the regulations discuss the contentious issues.
He indicated that teachers will not
take his actions lying down saying their relationship with the Ministry will be
strained unless the regulations as they are cancelled.
“When he talks about the majority of
the stakeholders in education, who are these? It is teachers who form 95
percent. Not a few crooks who have taken over the Ministry of Education… not
the Muthonis and the Musau Ndunda’s of this world. We are confusing education
in this world,” he said.
His sentiments were echoed by KNUT
National Chairman Mudzo Nzili who stated that teachers are ready to help the
Ministry in streamlining the rules governing basic education.
“Our friend who we respect very much
Jacob Kaimenyi has made a mistake and stepped on a snake. We will bite him in a
bad place since the Kenya National Union of Teachers is a professional
organization whose professionalism is in the head teachers,” he stated.
Kaimenyi stated on Tuesday that he
will not revoke the gazette notice that gives him oversight over school head
teachers, despite a seven-day ultimatum issued by a teachers’ union on Monday.
Speaking to journalists during an
educational conference on Tuesday, Kaimenyi said adequate consultations were
made and that a majority of the stakeholders wanted the regulations to be
gazetted.
He indicated that according to the
regulations, it is the Teachers Service Commission that has the mandate to hire
head teachers and that his role is to purely hold them accountable.
He stressed that following
investigations into an allegation, it is the prerogative of the Teachers
Service Commission (TSC) to take any disciplinary action.
While conceding that the two unions
disagreed with the rest of the stakeholders, he urged them to reconsider their
stance as this would be for the benefit of all Kenyans.
He reiterated additional benefits of
the regulations saying that they would improve the management of schools across
the country.
On Monday, KUPPET vehemently opposed
to the new regulations saying they give the Cabinet Secretary authority to hire
and fire head teachers, a provision which was in contravention with the
Constitution.
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