KUPPET wants security in learning institutions

Kuppet National Vice Chairman Julius Korir in Eldoret yesterday where he gave the Government a seven-day ultimatum to convene an urgent stakeholders peace meeting. [Photo: Peter Ochieng/standard]

The Government has been given a seven-day ultimatum to convene an urgent stakeholder's meeting to forge a way forward for teachers and students' security in the country.

The Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (Kuppet) said there should be sufficient security in learning institutions in a bid to boost the country's education standards.

Speaking in Eldoret town after meeting union leaders and teachers, Kuppet National Vice Chairman Julius Korir who also doubles as the North Rift Teachers Peace Association chairman said the Government should beef up security to ensure that the safety of teachers and students is guaranteed.

"As a union, we are calling on the Government to take matters concerning security involving teachers and students very seriously. What we have learnt in the last few weeks is that some of our learning institutions have been turned into IDP camps and barracks for bandits, which should not be the case," said Mr Korir.

He said that after the massacre of 28 teachers in Mandera and the recent killing of students by Al-Shabaab militia in Garissa, many teachers are still traumatised and need immediate counselling.

He, however, revealed that the union is providing counseling services in all its branches adding that logistics are being put in place to aid the posting of other teachers from areas that pose danger.

Korir differed with some leaders in the county who recently issued statements arguing that students affected by the Garissa attack should be vetted before being re-admitted to Moi University in Eldoret.

He said that higher learning institutions are Government facilities and thus every student has a right to join any institution because they are all taxpayers.

"Students who were affected should not only be absorbed at Moi University alone but also to other institutions within the country. We are all Kenyans and such sensitive issues should not be politicised especially in learning institutions," Korir said while responding to journalists who wanted to know the unions' stand on vetting of students.