New parents' association to be formed, says CS Fred Matiang'i

Plans are underway to form a new parents’ association, Education Secretary Fred Matiang’i revealed yesterday.

Dr Matiang’i said the National Association of Parents “does not exist anymore” as it did not represent the true interests of parents in schools.

He said the proposed association would strictly be made of parents who have students and pupils in schools and its chairman would be elected by 47 delegates from the counties.

Speaking while addressing national school principals in Mombasa yesterday, Matiang’i said the association would work closely with the ministry to ensure that parents have a voice in education matters.

“The ministry is currently reconstituting a parents’ representation body which will have parents’ whose children are still in school as members. On July 1, we will be meeting with 47 delegates from all the counties who will elect their bona fide chairperson to lead the association,” said Matiang’i.

 NEW HANDBOOK

At the same time, Matiangi explained that the ministry was also developing a new head teachers’ handbook to be used for reference in governing schools.

“We cannot govern ourselves in this chaotic manner. There should a standard fee that will be paid by all teachers to county directors,” he said.

He said the handbook would contain guidelines on what is expected of all teachers in terms of accounting.

On the categorisation of schools that had been proposed by the national schools heads, Matiang’i said the ministry would take up the issue and consult with all stakeholders before making a decision.

Dorothy Mukira, the chairperson of head teachers’ association, said there was a need for national schools to set standards from where other schools could adopt benchmarks.

“There should be a quality that is offered in national schools to give children a rationale to want to go and learn in these schools. We need these schools to be categorised,” said Ms Mukira.