Private schools accused of commercializing education

Private schools have been accused of commercializing the education sector by paying more attention to fees paid by parents over the quality of education learners are exposed to.

According to a report launched by teachers’ unions working with civil society groups in the education sector, the inconsistency in delivering quality education has been attributed to existing legal gaps that has led proliferation of such institutions.

In the report dubbed “Students Before Profit”, the Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) Secretary General Wilson Sossion urged the government to close existing legislative and regulatory loopholes and ensure private schools comply with minimum national standards.

The teachers’ unions and civil society groups are now calling on the government to ensure compliance in relation to minimum national standards with respect to the provision of education.

“Registration of schools must be conditional on full compliance with minimum standards. The government must fulfil its primary obligation to properly and adequately fund free quality education for all children regardless of the background. This is crucial to Kenya’s future prosperity,” read the statement by teachers’ unions and civil society groups.

Speaking after the release of the report Tuesday morning, Haki Jamii official Ashina Mtsumi said unregistered schools should not be used as examination centers in order to improve the quality of education.

Proprietors of private schools run their institutions independently upon registration with the Ministry of Education, with the government education officials only supervising and inspecting public schools.