Reinstate sacked Kisii heads teachers or else..., Kuppet demands

KUPPET Secretary General Akelo Misori. PHOTO: FILE

NAIROBI: A teachers union has threatened to move to court if the Ministry of Education and the teachers' employer fail to reinstate principals sacked over arson.

A special meeting called by Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) on Tuesday faulted the actions of Ministry and Teachers Service Commission (TSC) terming them 'knee jerk.'

Addressing the press yesterday, KUPPET Secretary General Akelo Misori said National Executive Board (NEB) meeting resolved that the teachers must be reinstated.

Misori said mass transfers and sackings by the government shall not fix arson in schools.

"We must indicate that this is impunity since teachers are not watchmen of schools. Teachers have no training in crime detection and the crisis in education sector cannot be addressed through drama and impunity," said Misori.

He was reacting to information that some of the schools affected by the recent fires raving down dormitories were interdicted by TSC.

Reports also indicated that some of the teachers have been transferred to other schools.

Parents and residents blocked roads around some of the Kisii schools on Monday, protecting sacking of the teachers.

They defended the principals saying some of them (heads) had good track records in management of their schools.

Sources at the TSC however told the Standard that the teachers interdicted were culpable and that they underwent the disciplinary procedures before being fired.

KUPPET Tuesday said the actions taken by the government are 'merely reactionary and may not solve problems in schools.'

"The current wave of disruption may not end by giving piece meal quick fix solutions to problems in education," said Misori.

He said the union demands that 'teachers so far interdicted be reinstated with immediate effect to avoid litigation.'

"The rule of law and natural justice must be applied in the circumstances," he said.

Misori spoke as a parliamentary inquiry on secondary schools arson scheduled yesterday was moved to next week Tuesday.

Sources at the Parliamentary Education Committee told the Standard that Education cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang'i asked for adequate time to prepare.

"He shall appear next week July 12," said the official.

The ministry has been on the spot over the growing fires destroying dormitories.

Education PS Belio Kipsan'g is on record saying the government shall not subsidize arson in schools.

He said parents and students shall construct the destroyed property and that the ministry shall not contribute even a single cent.