Abolish fancy titles for student leaders, government told

Education sector stakeholders have called for abolition of prestigious titles given to student leaders in primary and secondary schools.

This follows reports by the Ministry of Education that indicates unrest in schools are majorly perpetrated by student leaders.

Speaking during the tenth bi-annual National Secondary Schools Student Leaders conference, Kenya Secondary Schools Heads Association (KESSHA) chairman Kahi Indimuli said the titles belittle school heads.

“Titles such as presidents and governors in the students’ council should be scrapped. The weight these titles carry to some extent makes the principals appear powerless before their own students,” said Indimuli.

Indimuli said the emergence of fancy titles for student leaders has become a major challenge for school administrators in addressing indiscipline among the students.

“It is time we reverted to head boys, head girls or chairperson for students’ council and do away with these fancy titles,” he said.

As a form of corporate social responsibility and through invitation, the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has been handling elections of student leaders in select schools.

Some of these elections have been a replica of the "madness" in the national political campaigns as the candidates persuade their peers to elect them to various posts, some offering snacks as a form of enticement.

Indimuli pointed out that even as schools allow students to seek these posts, they should ensure the candidates are vetted prior to elections and they remain as students molded into better leaders.

“Let us allow our children to remain students and not turn them into politicians while still in school. Those seeking to be student leaders should be thoroughly vetted and their campaigns guided by moral values,” he said.

Director for Secondary Education Paul Kibet said bribing of students by aspiring leaders during their elections was on the rise and brings issues of integrity to fore.

"It is in no doubt that some students buy their way to leadership. It is up to schools’ administration to ensure integrity in the transition is upheld," said Kibet.

Investigations by the ministry into cases of unrest reported in schools last year indicated that student leaders had a hand in them.