Teachers across the country have come out to strongly criticise Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga’s suggestion that Kenya’s education sector should be devolved to counties.
In a recent interview, tutors expressed concern over the status of many devolved functions and vowed to fight tooth and nail to ensure they are not placed under county governments.
The teachers questioned whether Raila’s assessment of the county government’s ability to handle education upto secondary school was well thought.
“Has the Former Prime Minister analysed the unbearable challenges Early childhood teachers are going through?” quipped Arnold Ndong’a, a teacher in Kiambu county.
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Hassan Ooko, a tutor from Ungunja commented, “Healthcare is as important as education but as things stand, nearly all county governments have faults in their management. Leaders should be careful not to plunge education into such a mess.”
The teachers cautioned Raila that a well organised devolution conference like this year’s held in the Homa Bay should not hoodwink him into believing that counties can be entrusted with education sector.
Most teachers are of the opinion that an aspect of infrastructure can be left to the county government but not the recruitment, remuneration, promotion and discipline of teachers.
Speaking as a special guest during this year’s devolution conference held at Homa Bay, Raila advised that time has come for Kenya’s education sector to be devolved upto secondary school level, adding that it makes no sense for the Cabinet Secretary of Education to inspect primary structures as that can effectively be done by governors.
By Kaptich Tarus
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