Fredrick Odiero
The Kisumu County Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) Executive Secretary Mr. Zablon Awange has come up with a raft of recommendations aimed at restoring soberness within the education sector.
Awange has proposed that the government should fully employ a Chaplain or Imam in every school and pay them as opposed to the current system where they are paid by Boards of Managements (BOM).
Awange said the move was necessitated by a drop in moral standards among students and pupils across the country.
Speaking in Kisumu, Awange at the same time impressed upon the government to restore caning in learning institutions.
“Teachers must not mete out the punishment. Let the government employs Punishment officer to administer agreed acceptable caning to errant students. One in each school,” he said.
Awange recommended that Religious Education should be made compulsory to restore moral virtues in students.
He explained that Christian religious education, Islamic religious education, Buddhism, Hindu and even Ethics must be incorporated as a subject.
Awange lamented that subjects such as Christian religious education which used to be compulsory have now been made optional to the detriment of the general wellbeing of students in schools and at home.
The official said schools should deal ruthlessly with drugs addicts in schools with not less than six months suspension with possibility of repeating classes.
Awange further suggested that the Ministry of Education should re-look at delocalization policy noting that the unrests were as a result of community incitement due to dissatisfaction with foreign principals.
He said the government should vitalize Guidance and counseling department through substantive appointment by the teacher’s service commission with commensurate rate remuneration as opposed to the current situation where most are constituted internally.
Awange also said schools should ensure full restoration of all extra curriculum activities competitively as idle minds are devils workshop.
He said that the measures would go a long way in taping top talents in learning institutions.
