Matiang’i meets KNUT, KUPPET officials

Education Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i on Tuesday 2nd met officials from the Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) and the Kenya Union of Post Primary the Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) at his Jogoo house office.

Even though the agenda of the meeting remains unclear, sources indicate that the new curriculum could have been top on the agenda.

The teachers Unions have threatened legal action or to resort to industrial action if the Government does not shelf proposals contained in the new school curriculum.

The union officials want the ministry to stop the planned merging of schools terming it counter-productive.

Earlier on, the union leaders termed the decision by the Ministry of Education to place primary and secondary schools sharing the same land under one head teacher as 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.

The meeting comes ahead of Wednesday’s meeting where the education CS is expected to meet stakeholders in the sector to deliberate on the new education curriculum.