Do Kenyans really respect teachers?

(Photo: Courtesy)

Kenyans love, treasure and respect teachers. They made us who we are  by moulding our career paths and acting as mentors and advisers during our teenage years and even before.

Some still play an important role in our lives. It is because of this respect that tax-paying Kenyans generously fund the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) to take good care of teachers.

The TSC is among the best employers in the country. For instance, teachers enjoy an annual paid leave of close to 120 days, while everyone else is only entitled to 21. Teachers especially those in high school, do have their breakfast, lunch and sometimes supper in school free of charge.

Most of the teachers stay in school houses at highly subsidised costs. All these are funded by the taxpayer because we value and treasure the work that teachers do.

Recently, the government introduced the contributory medical insurance scheme for teachers to ensure medical bills do not render them bankrupt. The TSC recommends that a teacher teaches for 22 hours in a week, this translates to 4.4 hours a day. And during their leave days, teachers take up other jobs such as national exam invigilation and marking for which they are well paid.

Lastly, parents fund teachers’ trips to various destinations, to celebrate their performance. No other employer extends such benefits to their staff. All this is because of the respect Kenyans have for teachers.

Mr Okocha is a businessman