Boards of Management (BoM) and Parents’ Associations (PA) that manage schools have been asked to make learners their core priority.
The board’s training in Kakamega North Sub-County was told that they should give the learner all the needed attention to ensure that learning is not interrupted at all, at the expense of the learners.
While taking them through the dos and don’ts as board officials, the sub-county director of the Teachers Service Commission (TSC), Remjus Otieno, stated that both the board of management (BOM) and Parents Association (PA) were the commission’s eyes for any ills being committed by the teachers to the learner in various learning institutions.
The director said the teaching profession was facing many challenges that could only be addressed through strong boards instituted across.
The director notably pointed out that corporal punishment has continued to thrive in schools despite its ban and should be stopped for the safety of the learner and the teacher inflicting it.
Learners’ welfare is a priority
“The Kenya Basic Education act 2013, section 36 strictly condemns and prohibits both corporal punishment and mental harassment to learners across the country and those found culpable risk being fined up to Ksh 100,000 and imprisonment of up to six months or both, it is unfortunate that this disease has refused to stop in schools and I caution those teachers involved in the vice that if found out and brought in my office for redress ill not be lenient to you for it is a law that you should follow to the latter” he refuted.
Otieno said most of the learners across the country were being subjected to sexual immoral behaviors including lesbianism, sodomy, sexual flirtations and carnal knowledge from the very teachers that should be protecting them.
He called on the BoM to ensure that all teachers in their schools adhere to the code of conduct and the Basic Education Act so that learning continues as normal.
The director told the board officials to remember to collect substantial evidence in cases where the teacher has either assaulted or harmed the learner, so it can be used to press necessary charges and dictate the next course of action against the culprit.
He reminded the boards that they were the strongest pillar in the school and should work closely with the relevant stakeholders to foster a conducive learning environment for both learners and teaching staff.
He challenged them to be on the lookout for teachers’ negligence of duty, insubordination, infamous conduct, desertion of duty, and immoral behaviour, which are common mistakes committed by teachers, and to ensure there is sufficient evidence before presenting the accused teacher before the commission.
Otieno, however, said the commission had initiated the teachers’ induction mentorship and coaching (TIMEC) to support teachers in improving professional conduct and boosting learning outcomes.
“TIMEC entails school-based training where at least five teachers per school are trained. Please let it be known that it is there to encourage and support our teachers’ performance and not replace discipline in schools.
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He encouraged boards to grasp their mandates to support teachers in their respective schools by ensuring, among other things, that they provide housing for them, that the school has appropriate furniture and decent sanitation facilities, and that they enhance team building and bonding and create a conducive, better environment for both teachers and learners.
By Wakhungu Andanje
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