<p><strong>In summary:</strong><br />
<strong>KUPPET</strong> representatives have told Professor Magoha to let principals be.<br />
According to KUPPET’s Milemba, the union is willing to fight for the welfare of Kenyan teachers at whatever cost.</p>
<p><strong>WHO IS BETTER SUITED TO HANDLE SCHOOL FUNDS, PRINCIPALS OR OUTSIDERS?</strong><br />
KUPPET on Thursday refuted a proposal by the Education Cabinet Secretary <strong>Professor George Magoha</strong> to have outsiders manage secondary school funds.</p>
<p>The union’s <strong>secretary-general Okello Misori</strong> and <strong>chair Omboko Milemba</strong> defended the principals saying they can manage school money.</p>
<p>They said that professor Magoha should stop undermining the authority of principals since they have already undergone rigorous training on matters financial management.</p>
<p>The two union officials spoke at Kisii Sports Club during the annual general meeting of <strong>KUPPET-Kisii Branch</strong>.</p>
<p>The union pledged to support the principals by outrightly rejecting Professor Magoha’s proposal.</p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>Besides, these are the same principals who have been managing the schools over the years. So what has changed?</p>
<p><strong>PROMOTIONS AND HOUSE ALLOWANCES</strong><br />
Misori further added that the union will continue with its negotiations with THE Teachers Service Commission on promotion of teachers, house allowances and recruitment.</p>
<p>The union said it is committed to fighting for the welfare of Kenyan teachers.<br />
Those teachers who have stagnated in Job groups L and M should be promoted, Milemba added.</p>
<p><strong>SECRET PROPOSAL</strong><br />
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.</p>
<p>Principals of national and some extra county schools were the targets due to the huge amount of money they receive.</p>
<p>The proposal by the CS is aimed at stripping school principals of the power to run school money and other resources.</p>
<p>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.</p>
<p><strong>FINANCE MANAGERS AND UNSCRUPULOUS ACTIVITIES</strong><br />
According to the CS, the Ministry of Education will deploy a finance manager to every school for accountability.</p>
<p>The reason behind this move is the numerous accusations levelled against school principals.</p>
<p>The principals have been accused of engaging in dishonest and corrupt deals to make extra money.</p>
<p>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.</p>
<p><strong>CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS</strong><br />
According to the CS, institutions with questionable quality assurance reports should be thoroughly combed.</p>
<p>Complaints from concerned education stakeholders will also be taken into account during the investigation process.</p>
<p>Professor Magoha’s proposal seeks to have the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission and the DPP involved in investigating the use of school resources.</p>
<p>This combined effort is aimed at unearthing shoddy and corrupt dealings by principals.</p>
<p>Schools with adverse quality reports will, therefore, be subjected to further investigations by the EACC.</p>
<p>Investigated case files will then be forwarded to the DPP’s office for further action.</p>

