HOPE FOR BOM TEACHERS AS CS MAGOHA GETS SUMMONED BY PARLIAMENT OVER SCHOOL CASH DELAYS
Education CS Professor George Magoha has been summoned to appear before the Parliamentary education committee to explain why the Ministry is yet to disburse 30% of second term funds for free primary and secondary schools across the country.
This noble idea was fronted by Emuhaya MP Omboko Milemba who asked Parliament to summon the CS to explain when the ministry will release the funds to support the education sector which is obviously struggling like the other sectors amidst the pandemic.
“It is about three months since teachers who are employed by the boards of management and other non-teaching staff were paid yet they play a critical role in the education sector,” said Milemba.
The aforementioned 30% figure is meant to help schools facilitate their activities.
CO-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES’ FUNDS
In May 2020, the Ministry demanded that county and sub-county education directors return all unused money allocated for co-curricular activities now that they did not take place following the outbreak of the coronavirus in March 2020.
Milemba now wants millions of shillings that had been allocated to the ministry for curricular activities to be reallocated to schools to help in off-setting some outstanding debts that schools may have accrued following the unexpected closure of schools.
BOM TEACHERS’ SALARIES
According to KESSHA chair Kahi Indimuli, approximately 80, 000 teachers employed by school management boards and thousands of subordinate staff in public schools have not received their monthly wages since April 2020 due to the delayed release of funds to schools.
Their counterparts in private schools have not been spared either. As we speak, most private schools are engaged in battles with parents and guardians over school fees payment to maintain their staff.
“It has been three months now and BOM teachers, subordinate workers, and tutors in private schools seem to have been totally forgotten. Currently, there is a glaring staffing gap of 120, 000 teachers. BOM teachers together with their counterparts in private schools have families that depend on them,” said Milemba, KUPPET chair.
EXTRA-ORDINARY TIMES CALL FOR EXTRAORDINARY MEASURES
Mr. Milemba said that these were extraordinary times and therefore the Ministry should deal with its workers in an extra-ordinary way that is humane and considerate.
Mr. Indimuli backed up Milemba’s take asking the government to release the funds saying that BOM teachers and subordinate staff earn a pitying and therefore denying them salaries will complicate their lives since the majority have got families that depend on them.
When contacted by the Daily Nation, CS Magoha did not respond to text messages or calls on what the Government has done to address the plight of BOM teachers.
