The idea behind holding an annual head teachers conference is very critical for the smooth running of schools and a cauldron for brainstorming on burning issues.
The ongoing 35th sitting especially holds much promise that many sticky issues would be resolved, explained or otherwise comprehensively addressed. No matter is too trivial to be left out for discussion, nor too knotted to be untangled.
Issues range from shortage of teachers, student transition between levels, recruitment, curriculum challenges, promotions, performance contracts, appraisals and general school administration.
For these purposes, this year’s sitting has been graced by none other than the Education minister, the Deputy Prime Minister, the Director of Education, CEOs of Kenya National Examinations Council, the hiring arm, Teachers service Commission and Kenya Institute of Education.
This top-heavy presence underlines the seriousness with which the congregation is accorded in order to reform and improve school administration, expound policy and address terms and conditions of service.
Several positive outcomes are expected such as resolution of the long-standing row over whether to hire interns to bolster teaching staff numbers. Granted Kenya National Union of Teachers had opposed internship as ‘cheapening’ the noble profession and likened it to a Kazi Kwa Vijana-style approach managing a critical sector, all that may soon be water under the bridge.
The good news
The minister has warned that the teacher shortage has reached alarming levels and that the current shortage of 66,000 would have surpassed 77,000 if there is no recruitment this year. The good news is that the Sh1.6 billion for their recruitment is available immediately.
Head teachers successfully lobbied for and received unequivocal backing form the Government and parents to ban corporal punishment. They have handed more responsibilities to students in a mentorship role for future leadership. Principals also sought more money for laboratories to conduct live experiments rather than the cheaper option of reliance on ‘diagrams’.
But as Acting Education PS Magdalene Wambua rightly points out, teachers can still ensure students get value for money if they judiciously use the resources available to them.
However, their demand for a new levy needs a rethink. It is time they found solutions for education’s challenges elsewhere. Already, more than 30 per cent of the national budget goes to that sector. It is imperative that, without commercialising education, principals need to tighten the bolts on pilferage, ensure more accountability for IOUs and donor funds.
Frequent demands for harmonisation of various allowances can get as irritating as the South African vuvuzela. Granted, teachers are not to blame for they are the first in line to feel the pinch when they have to lock students out of school. They are the ones expected to grapple with stratospheric cost of books and other learning materials, food and accommodation.
In that regard, they should use this conference to pile pressure on the mandarins at Jogoo House and the Treasury to enforce strict fiscal discipline and explain the whereabouts of the Sh100 million misappropriated last year.
Gravy train
Seeking more from overburdened parents is akin to double taxation. Yes, teachers have every right to ask for more. They have agreed to be sign performance contracts and must get pay commensurate with the magnitude of the work they put in to ensure students excel. But if every sub-sector demanded a levy to their programmes, there would not be enough of the national cake to go round.
All these kitties have been prone to abuse. A cursory look at the Constituency Development Fund gravy train, the tourism development levy, roads, rural electrification and a host of others have been long on pledges and short of expectations.
