Schools hope Mutula will lobby for new poll date

By Kenan Miruka 

Stakeholders in the education sector fear the March 4, 2013, elections date announced by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) will undermine academic programmes.

Dissenting voices faulted former Minister Education Minister Sam Ongeri for supporting the date without considering the disruption of learning. But it is not clear what policy the new minister Mutula Kilonzo would adopt. Ongeri said learning would not be interrupted saying the half-term break would be scheduled to coincide with March 4 to enable smooth polling. He said elections take just two days and learners would be out for half term.

But the Kenya National Union of Teachers (Knut) and the Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (Kuppet) said first term was crucial in the academic calendar and should not be interfered with.

Education minister Mutula Kilonzo hands over to new Justice minister Eugene Wamalwa. [Photo: Moses Omusula/Standard]

"Most schools are used as polling and tallying centres and all schools have to close," said Knut Secretary General Okuta Osiany.

Osiany said schools may remain closed for long in case of a presidential run off. Kenya Primary Schools Heads Association Nyanza branch treasurer and NEC member, Samson Mokwang’a, notes that electioneering is not about the voting day alone.

"Ahead of elections, campaigns take place in school grounds which are used for meetings and rallies. Learning will be affected, as teachers are part of the electioneering process. With the curriculum meant to end in September as per the new term dates, this date is untenable," says Mokwang’a.

"Teachers will be involved in many ways including training as clerks and presiding officers. The whole term will go to waste," says Obwocha. Analysts argue Ongeri was merely supporting his party position.

"There are many activities in first term including release of KCPE and KCSE results, Form One selection and reporting to schools and term one games. The date should either be pushed to April or back to December," argues Musau Ndunda.

Kenyenya District Secondary School Sports Association Chairman Albert Ombiro says sports activities would be affected.

"Due to the revised term dates, most of activities previously held in second term have been pushed to first term. It is a delicate balance factoring in time for sports activity while keen to exhaust the syllabus," says Ombiro.

"We respect the court ruling and IEBC’s position but we want wider consultations to have elections in December and avoid interfering with school programmes," says Mogire.

According to Mogire, schools close in the first week of November allowing about two months within which campaigns can be conducted for December poll.

"This will be a high stakes poll with a flurry of activity. In case of a run-off, six months can be lost. How then can we exhaust the syllabus and allow for exams at the end of 2013?" posed Mogire.

He challenged Ongeri to champion for the December date in the interest of the education sector.

Kenya National Parents Association Secretary General Musau Ndunda says parents are opposed to the March date because it will affect many programmes.

IEBC chair Isaack Hassan said in setting the March date, a number of electoral processes were considered including the requirement that political parties comply with the Political Parties Act 2011 by April.

Other considerations include the need for public officers intending to contest to resign at least eight months before elections, mapping of new electoral units, voter education, inspection of voters’ register and procurement of electoral material.