Religious leaders call for their inclusion in education reforms

Religious leaders in Nandi County told the task force collecting views on the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC) that they had been sidelined in education reforms.

They proposed that church leadership be integrated into schools' management as well as to offer spiritual support to learners and the teaching staff.

Presenting their views to the task force at Kapsabet Girls High School, they said that churches have been left out of education reforms yet they are the founders of some schools.

But Susan Choge, the chairperson of academics at Koitale Samoei University, said the CBC programme has no policy structures that define the role of school sponsors in public institutions, which have led to conflicts.

"The CBC has only stipulated policies on basic education but it is silent on administrative functions. It has not defined substantive functions of the board of management and the church, and in most cases, the church leaders are found to be intruders on matters to do with school management," said Dr Choge.

She urged the framers of the CBC to consider the management formations in schools and she claimed that the church plays a social responsibility and development of the education sector in the community.

"Churches or its leaders should not inconvenience management. The ministry of Education should consider omitting the sponsorships in public schools. Why should we have external institutions or individuals calling shots on how to handle education matters," said Choge.

She asked the task force to specify the position of religious leaders in schools to evert wrangles.

In a rejoinder, Bishop Paul Korir of the Anglican Church of Kenya (ACK), who represented the religious leaders, dismissed the school boards of management and said clerics have been sidelined in education activities for years.

"Churches have not been involved in education reforms since clerics are deemed to only conduct prayers during school functions. We are also leaders but we have not been consulted to contribute to any education developments, and we are calling upon the stakeholder to count on our submissions," he requested.

He urged the CBC task force that the spiritual consultants, theological trainers and guiding and counseling should be integrated into schools.

"We are against the calls to strike out church sponsorship. They are part and parcel of the community and in one way or another they are pioneers of most schools in the country and their role whatsoever cannot be overlooked," he affirmed.

Groups including students' assembly, parents' association, political leaders, Kenya National Union of Teachers (Knut) and Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (Kuppet) raised concern over the CBC programme.

They claimed that CBC is expensive and discriminatory. Kuppet's Paul Rotich said parents have to dig deeper into their pockets to afford CBC books and teaching aids.

"The junior secondary schools should be domiciled in the existing primary schools and not secondary schools," he stated.