Knec warns parents ahead of Form One selection

Kenya: Kenya National Examination Council (Knec) has warned parents and teachers against fraudsters masquerading as council staff out to fleece them money with promise to offer Form One slots.

Knec Chief Executive Officer Joseph Kivilu said even as teachers return to class, some texts are doing rounds claiming to offer the candidates better places in prime secondary schools.

“We want to warn teachers and parents that Form One selection shall be done by the Ministry of Education beginning next week,” he said. He was not specific on the exact date the exercise kicks off.

Education Principal Secretary Bellio Kipsang also said the exercise will kick off soon and warned that no one had been mandated to assist any student.

“The process has not started and we shall do it competitively and based on merit,” said Mr Kipsang

At the same time, Kenya National Union of Teachers (Knut) wants Education Cabinet Secretary Jacob Kaimenyi to apologise over remarks he made on the strike even as the union top organ declared that the industrial action is over.

Anger at Kaimenyi

The teachers said they felt insulted by the CS statement that they are insensitive.

“We were fighting for our rights as patriotic Kenyans but he chose to get personal and attack us, this is unacceptable and we will not allow him to get away with it,” said Knut Secretary General Wilson Sossion.

Union chairman Mudzo Nzili called for resignation of Kaimenyi. “He is not holding public office with dignity. It is him who caused all the teachers troubles and contributed towards teachers’ anger,” he said.

The two officials spoke yesterday after the Knut Advisory Council meeting that officially called off the strike. Mr Sossion called upon all teachers to report work on Monday.

“I call upon all the teachers to report to their various schools on Monday without any delay and teach with total commitment. We also ask the parents to proceed and pay school fees and take their children to boarding schools this weekend since they will start classes on Monday,” he said.

He said Knut was satisfied with the Industrial Court’s directive saying they are convinced justice will be done.

Sossion noted that the court is fair in adjudicating cases and the union had confidence it handle them matter well. The Knut chairman said teachers will recover the syllabus within the available time and will also utilise weekends.

He said the union will submit a memorandum of demands on Monday to the Industrial Court adding that improved quality education is required in the country.

The court on Wednesday directed the teachers to resume work and asked trade unions, Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (Kuppet) and Knut to file the dispute matters. The court asked the unions to file their cases by January 19 and the Salaries and Remuneration Commission to respond to the dispute by January 26.