Poor results blamed on teachers’ low morale

By Edwin Cheserek

Uasin Gishu, Kenya: Bungoma school heads have raised concern over shortage of teachers and lack of motivation.

Heads from nine districts pointed out that schools continued to post poor results. Addressing over 300 head teachers on the second day of a heads conference in Eldoret, Kenya Secondary School Heads Association Bungoma Chapter Chairman Keya Sabwani pressed for motivation of all teachers.

“Teacher unions have been pushing for motivation and incentives to overcome the challenges but the Government has been reluctant,” he said.

He said the Government knows lack of teacher motivation has posed a challenge in attaining education yet little has been done.

“There is need to study reviews on major determinants of teacher motivation and job satisfaction, focusing particularly on conditions of service,” he explained. The conference, which was opened by Bungoma Governor Ken Lusaka, seeks to find ways of transforming teacher management.

Mr Sabwani said county governments should partner to share experiences to implement their policies successfully.

Set goals

“We encourage visiting of various institutions to know the secrets behind their outstanding performances and seek to adopt them,” he advised.

Bungoma County Education Director Daniel Mosbei said to improve the quality of education teachers should observe professionalism.

Mosbei suggested the need to initiate and support trading programmes targeting sub-ordinate staff to help in the implementation of the set goals.

“This is the only way we can make them have the right attitude and offer the necessary support to the entire team at the institutions,” he said.

But Sabwani disclosed that witch-hunting and political interference were hindering good performance in most learning institutions.

He asked teachers to demand to be part of decision-making saying they have the capacity to make a difference in the sector.

Mr Lusaka said there should be equality in provision of education and there was need to harness skills and competency through capacity building and better salaries for teachers.