Close schools to calm fires, if not we shall, KNUT's Wilson Sossion tells State

KNUT Secretary General Wilson Sossion

NAIROBI: The giant teachers union now wants the government to close down all schools a week earlier to calm tensions in schools.

Kenya National Union of Teachers' (KNUT) secretary general Wilson Sossion said students are fatigued and explained that the fires in schools are a strong message of stress.

"These children must be given a break if we are to save schools. There is a lot of tension and it is wrong to continue keeping them in schools any longer," said Sossion.

Speaking to The Standard, Sossion said if the Ministry fails to close schools in time KNUT shall ask its members to shut them.

"Let schools close by August 5 to allow children three weeks to calm down and relieve stress. When they come back we shall have a peaceful third term," said Sossion.

He accused the Ministry for denying existence of fatigue among learners because of the extended term dates.

However, appearing before the Senate Education Committee, Education Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang'i strongly opposed the argument on term dates extension terming it 'escapist.'

Matiang'i said the first arson case was reported in January even before term dates were reviewed.

"About this time last year, 98 schools had burnt when changes in term dates had not happened. It is not true and I think it is basically an excuse that is being peddled around, a lame excuse from some of our teachers and union leaders," Matiang'i told the Senate.

He said the changes to term dates were almost insignificant. "We basically introduced a new range of the school term and said school term can go ahead by a week up to August 12," said Matiang'i.

Committee chairman, Daniel Karaba, had asked Matiang'i to explain why schools continue to burn.

"We have seen more schools continue to burn and they seem to spread to Central province and Eastern and North Eastern and that is our fears. Is it true that some of the pronouncements you made on term dates are being resisted by boys and girls?

The ministry reviewed term dates through a circular dated May 18. It indicated that all schools shall close on August 12 for second term.

Third term is scheduled to start August 29 with all schools expected to close in October 29.

These translated to 15 learning weeks for second term and a shortened session of nine weeks for third term.

It however means that, learners shall have two weeks rest during second term.

Matiang'i explained that there were no complaints against the term dates and explained that due consultation was done.

"No one raised an issue. We had a meeting with KNUT, KUPPET, secondary school heads and primary school heads. I even called a focus group of head teachers across the country. We made a proposal to them on the new term dates and rearrangement of the terms," he said.

The CS further explained that even after meeting the stakeholders, they were asked to go and consult their members.

"They came back two weeks later and we had a press conference together. The recommendations of term dates are not new they are in the Wangai report, another done by examinations council and in secondary school heads reports. I was basically implementing recommendations of various institutions," he said.

But speaking yesterday, Sossion maintained term dates are to blame for students 'burn out.'

"It is term dates and I shall repeat this for umpteenth time. And I am speaking as a teacher. These students have burnt out and they want adequate rest," said Sossion.

He said Matiang'i must make a quick decision to close schools as was earlier scheduled.

"If he doesn't close schools we shall ask our members to close schools to save the institutions. Three weeks are enough to allow the ministry organize itself and for students to come back fresh," said Sossion.

He said the eight-member team put up by the CS is not independent and may not produce an independent report.

"That is a ministerial committee. It is a window dressing that shall not save the situation. The 30 days the team has been allocated is too much time because more damage shall have been done," said Sossion.