KNUT, KUPPET oppose new education policy

The new education policy recently announced by the ministry of education continues to draw mixed reactions with the two teachers’ unions now opposing the new rules.

The Kenya Union of Teachers (KNUT) and the Kenya union of Post Primary Teachers (KUPPET) now want the ministry to stop the planned merging of schools terming it counter-productive.

According to the union leaders, the decision by the Ministry of Education to place primary and secondary schools sharing the same land under one head teacher was impractical.

“Either good or bad, we shall resist, it is our right to be consulted. Under what we call the Status of teachers Act under recommendation 1966, the teacher must be engaged in policy dialogue.” Said Wilson Sossion, KNUT Secretary General

The unionists also expressed concerns over introduction of day wing in national schools.

“It is important to send this message to Matiang’i, we appreciate his proactive nature in instituting reforms in education, those reforms are needed but they must be consultative.” Said Akelo Misori ,KUPPET Secretary General

The unionists have instead called on teachers’ employer TSC and the ministry of education to re-focus their energy on improving schools, infrastructure and narrowing the widening teacher-students ratio.