In summary:
KUPPET representatives have told Professor Magoha to let principals be.
According to KUPPET’s Milemba, the union is willing to fight for the welfare of Kenyan teachers at whatever cost.
WHO IS BETTER SUITED TO HANDLE SCHOOL FUNDS, PRINCIPALS OR OUTSIDERS?
KUPPET on Thursday refuted a proposal by the Education Cabinet Secretary Professor George Magoha to have outsiders manage secondary school funds.
The union’s secretary-general Okello Misori and chair Omboko Milemba defended the principals saying they can manage school money.
They said that professor Magoha should stop undermining the authority of principals since they have already undergone rigorous training on matters financial management.
The two union officials spoke at Kisii Sports Club during the annual general meeting of KUPPET-Kisii Branch.
The union pledged to support the principals by outrightly rejecting Professor Magoha’s proposal.
Mr Misori said he wonders how foreigners can manage school cash yet we have principals who are not only diligent but also trained to do their job.
Besides, these are the same principals who have been managing the schools over the years. So what has changed?
PROMOTIONS AND HOUSE ALLOWANCES
Misori further added that the union will continue with its negotiations with THE Teachers Service Commission on promotion of teachers, house allowances and recruitment.
The union said it is committed to fighting for the welfare of Kenyan teachers.
Those teachers who have stagnated in Job groups L and M should be promoted, Milemba added.
SECRET PROPOSAL
A month ago Professor Magoha gave a proposal which sought to grant Education Cabinet Secretaries the power to appoint a manager to run school finances and resources.
Principals of national and some extra county schools were the targets due to the huge amount of money they receive.
The proposal by the CS is aimed at stripping school principals of the power to run school money and other resources.
According to this proposal, heads should take their hands off school money and focus on their core duty of supervising learning and teaching in schools.
FINANCE MANAGERS AND UNSCRUPULOUS ACTIVITIES
According to the CS, the Ministry of Education will deploy a finance manager to every school for accountability.
The reason behind this move is the numerous accusations levelled against school principals.
The principals have been accused of engaging in dishonest and corrupt deals to make extra money.
Some of these activities include giving out school buses for hire, paid remedial and holiday tuition and collaborating with suppliers of textbooks and school uniforms to make money.
CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS
According to the CS, institutions with questionable quality assurance reports should be thoroughly combed.
Complaints from concerned education stakeholders will also be taken into account during the investigation process.
Professor Magoha’s proposal seeks to have the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission and the DPP involved in investigating the use of school resources.
This combined effort is aimed at unearthing shoddy and corrupt dealings by principals.
Schools with adverse quality reports will, therefore, be subjected to further investigations by the EACC.
Investigated case files will then be forwarded to the DPP’s office for further action.
