During Kiambu County’s Kenya Secondary Schools Heads Association (KESSHA) conference, Patrick Mathu, Kiambu County’s KESSHA chair, expressed confidence in the school heads stating that over the years, the county’s mean score has constantly been improving.
Attended by about three hundred delegates, the chair said the summit gave the school heads the opportunity to refocus after the pandemic on what they needed to do to make education effective and improve in efficiency in the dispensation of CBC.
He further attributed the academic growth from inspiration received from the county director and the oneness and the bond established by the school heads over the years that has seen all principals in the county working together with a common focus.
Among the issues discussed included curriculum delivery, learners’ performance, stress management, professionalism and mental health subject that addressed some of the mental stresses that teachers likely go through and how to manage them.
It was however realized that the principals ought to be trained and exposed more on the IPSAS system of accounting and auditing. Despite having bursars that have been trained on the same and who handle schools’ accounting matters, Mathu said schools’ accounting officers were the principals and all responsibilities fell on them hence the need to be familiar with the system.
Mathu also noted that despite the members’ impressive attendance, other members were unable to be part of the one-week conference because of the other numerous activities that were taking place in the country.
Apart from the KESSHA conferences, drama festivals and the national leadership conference were concurrently happening in the same county of Mombasa whereas the science and engineering fare was taking place in Kisumu where a good number of the county principals participated in.
“We are pleased with the attendance. Among the principals, we also have subcounty directors and TSC county directors who were representing the county well,” the Chair added.
Mathu however cited inadequate capitation as the county’s top challenge adding that the financial support received does not meet the demand in schools.
“KESSHA activities are so many and really financially strenuous,” he stated.
These activities he said included, co-curriculum activities, conferences, supporting county education boards, supporting education day in the county, students’ council, subject panels, own welfares among others.
The conference was the first ever KESSHA meeting since the advent of Covid 19 and in the next few months, Mathu said the county is looking forward to holding a prayer breakfast, a national conference this coming June in Mombasa, a deputy principals workshop in August and further participate in the second term’s ball games and music festivals when schools open.
By George Otieno
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