In Summary:Â
- CS Magoha ordered masks at Rivatex months ago but when schools opened, there were no masks. Gladys Boss, Woman rep, Uasin Gishu says We have an incompetent CS for health & education
- There are over 30 COVID-19 deaths of teachers in the last 4 weeks. – Wilson Sossion.
- Teachers are not guinea pigs & will not be used as experiments, something has to be done – Otoa Sifuna, Education Expert
- The Govt. is still just talking about plans and not an action was taken in regard to schools. – Andiwo Obondo, Education Expert.
Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) Secretary-General Hon. Wilson Sossion on Wednesday 18th revealed that more than 30 teachers have succumbed to covid-19 in the last 4 weeks. Appearing on DayBreak a morning show hosted by CitizenTV, the ODM nominated MP warned that if the government is not prepared, schools may turn into death traps.
“There are over 30 COVID-19 deaths of teachers in the last 4 weeks. How can the Govt. provide desks & other funding but not masks for learners? Govt. must invest in schools in January. If Govt. does not prepare, schools will be turned into death traps.” Sossion warned.
Wilson Sossion, who seemed concerned with the state of learning in Kenya said schools are not adequately prepared.
“If learners are coming to schools without masks, what are teachers to do? We must see tangible and measurable preparations between now and January. Teachers with any form of illness must not go to school.” He said.
Sossion’s sentiments were echoed by Andiwo Obondo an Education Expert who stated that the Government is still talking about plans but taking no actions in regard to schools. “The Government is still just talking about plans and not action taken in regard to schools. Should there be a major outbreak, how are schools prepared to handle it? If we fully open schools in Jan, the current number of teachers cannot handle it.” Said Andiwo.
Teachers are not Guinea Pigs
Otoa Sifuna an Education Expert too noted that teachers are treated carelessly yet they are the frontline workers. “Teachers are now frontline workers, yet they are treated very casually. We are now experimenting with our teachers. Right now our priority and billions are on BBI yet people are dying. The number of teachers to student ratio continues to shrink.” He said.
“We want the Sossion of yesteryears coming in to salvage teachers of this country. The Kenyan parent has shouldered too much. Teachers are not guinea pigs and will not be used as experiments, something has to be done.” Otoa stated.
Gladys Boss the woman representative in Uasin Gishu County blamed the Health and Education Ministries for being incompetent noting that parliament has always approved all funds for the ministries. She noted that the Cabinet Secretaries in the ministries need to be impeached immediately.
Magoha and Kagwe Should be impeached
“We have an incompetent CS for health and education; CS Magoha can do a cabinet memorandum seeking reprioritization of funding and so can CS Kagwe. Parliament has approved all budgets, the next step for Parliament should be to impeach Cabinet Secretaries,” said the woman rep. She noted that rushing children to schools is not a priority at the moment but the safety of learners.
She expressed her shock that CS Magoha ordered masks at Rivatex months ago but when schools opened, there were no masks. “Schools that loose teachers should have the students tested not,” she said.
“If parents decide students are not going to schools, it won’t matter how much CS Magoha tells us to open schools. CS Kagwe lecturing us on TV in his posh suits is not saving the lives of teachers and doctors who have died or protecting our children in schools.” Said Sholei.
Wilson Sossion stated told the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) to style up in terms of labour relations noting that the Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) should be left to operate freely. “A strong union reflects and mirrors a strong education system.” He said.
Sossionalso proposed that form 4 leavers in Nothern Kenya be allowed to train as graduates. “The lasting solution for Northern Kenya is to allow and train graduates who have minimum Form 4 qualification to train as teachers as they undertake refresher courses. TSC is becoming rogue and dishonest. Sossion concluded.
