CS Fred Matiang’i brother, a KNUT official hits back over teacher absenteeism

NYAMIRA: Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) national Treasurer John Matiang’i is up in arms with his brother, Education Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i over claims of absenteeism in public schools.

On Wednesday, the elder Matiang’i while releasing last year’s Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) examination results said teachers’ absenteeism was at 70 per cent, a reason he cited for poor performance in government-run primary schools.

Speaking at the burial of Nyamira County Assembly Human Resource Director Francis Onyoni Chieta at Bombo, Nyamira County, the younger Matiang’i lashed out at the CS over the claims saying they were not founded on realities that have been evident in the sector over the last one year.

There was a light moment at the ceremony of the former principal of Nyakemicha Secondary when John said “I want to tell the Cabinet Secretary for Education that teachers of this country are also humans.”

He said the CS speech was informed by incorrect reports from quality assurance officers.
He defended that the teacher’s strikes which took place in January and almost the entire third term took most of the learners time.

The treasurer said absenteeism is irrelevant in the issue of the said poor performance.

“If there was absenteeism, where are the statistics all year round tabulating the same? It is a sign that they are not doing their work. Teachers Service Commission code of conduct and government policy is clear that such cases could have faced disciplinary measures,” he argued.

Nyamira County Assembly Speaker Joash Nyamoko and West Mugirango parliamentary aspirant Steve Mogaka also criticised the Education Ministry and the Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) over examination cheating.

According to the KNUT official, the Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) should bear the responsibility over exams cheating claims which they noted had caused the disparity in performance.

Nyamoko said ranking of schools and learners’ performance is an international way of appreciating hard work in any field of competition.

“Ranking is practiced world over and we cannot run away from it,” said Mr Nyamoko.

“There is nowhere in the world where ranking is not done,” said Matiang’i. Noting that, “Parliament ranking is done to commend most active members, Sportsmen and athletes are ranked, why do we shy away from the health way of doing things?” He posed.

The officials raised concerns that exam leakages were spoiling international job markets for the local graduates because of the bad name on them as beneficiaries of unfairly awarded certificates.

“Leakages are spoiling international job market. Nobody should stand to defend the matter of leakages. As KNUT, we raised the matter and the CEO of (KNEC) went on to administer the same exams that an alarm had been raised, this is being insensitive,” said the union’s national executive member Geoffrey Mogire.