The Ministry of Education has instructed public schools to begin the process of replacing management boards.
The Ministry is seeking to have all new board members vetted at the nomination stage, in response to blatant violations of government fee guidelines and increasing cases of indiscipline in public schools.
According to Ministry sources, the government is eager to clean up all school boards in order to get rid of members who have presided over the continued disregard of ministry guidelines and policies as their terms expire in February next year.
Education Cabinet Secretary George Magoha spells out timelines for nominations and states the deadline for presenting the list of new persons for approval in a memo to all County Directors of Education.
Magoha also states in the October 4 memo that the current County Education Boards have served their four-year terms and that they should be replaced.
“According to Section 22 of the Basic Education Act, 2013, the tenure of service for the chairperson and members of the County education boards is four years and three years respectively,” said Magoha.
County Education Boards are expected to collaborate with the Board of Management, the Principal, the Head Teacher, and other appropriate authorities in the management of schools, among other things.
They will also be responsible for coordinating and monitoring education and training in the county on behalf of the national and county governments.
The names of the respective board nominees should be forwarded on or before November 30.
“The purpose of this letter is to advise to as you to start the process of nominations and selection for appointment of new County Education Boards in accordance with section 20(1) (a-k) and School Boards of Management in accordance with Section 55 of the Basic Education Act, 2013,” said the CS.
According to the Act, the school board is made up of six people who are elected to represent the parents of the students in the school or, in the case of county secondary schools, the local community.
These are: nominated by the County Education Board, representative of the school’s teaching staff elected by the teachers, and representatives of the school’s sponsors.
In addition, one person representing special interest groups in the community, one person representing people with special needs, and an ex officio member of the students’ council will sit on the board.
The Board of Management may, from time to time, co-opt into its membership individuals who it believes have the necessary skills and experience to assist the Board in carrying out its functions.
Jwan Julius, Principal of Basic Education, stated that they anticipate the new teams coming into the school boards will streamline management.
“Nominations shall be done at school level but we are keen to see persons who are committed to implementing Ministry guidelines and policies,” said Jwan.
“We only want to see members who have been committed to implementing government policies given second chance to sit on those boards.”
School heads, who serve as secretaries to the boards of management, have recently come under fire for failing to follow the fees guidelines despite Ministry circulars.
Some of the principals have also been named for their role in overseeing an increase in cases of indiscipline, which has resulted in school fires and other ills.
The Ministry has now stated that those who will serve on the boards must be competent.
County Directors of Education who spoke yesterday stated that they will vet board chairpersons because they lead a unit that makes school decisions.
“We know that some heads of schools will want to push out those who have stood on their path to doing bad things and reward those who support their ill ways,” said one of the directors.
Following the nominations, Section 56 (4) of the Act states that the members of the Board of Management shall elect their chairperson from among themselves.
- Luis Suarez Extends Inter Miami Contract for Another Year
- Man United Eyeing £116 Million Sensation for Squad Boost
- Gor Mahia Ends Winless Streak with 2-0 Victory Over Homeboyz
- Tusker Triumphs Over Mara Sugar in a Thrilling FKF Premier League Clash
- HOW TO DETECT CANCER AT ITS EARLIEST STAGE
 of the Act){kind=link}