KUPPET Narok opposes planned merger of schools over low enrollment

The Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) Narok branch newly elected Executive Secretary Saruni Tasur, has strongly opposed the government’s proposal to merge secondary schools with low student enrollment, terming the move ill-advised and detrimental to access to education.

In a statement responding to the recent announcement by the Ministry of Education (MoE), Tasur said the plan to merge schools on the basis of poor enrollment fails to consider the unique challenges facing arid and semi-arid regions such as Narok.

He argued that many of the affected institutions were established specifically to improve access to education for learners in remote and marginalized areas, where distance to school remains a major barrier.

The Unionist maintained that education is a fundamental function of the national government and should guarantee access to every Kenyan child.

According to Tasur, closing or merging schools would only widen inequalities by forcing learners to travel longer distances, potentially increasing dropout rates and undermining gains made in expanding secondary education.

Tasur described the proposal as ‘not just appalling but unacceptable,’ adding that it reflects a lack of comprehensive planning.

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He emphasized that instead of shutting down or merging schools, the government should formulate sound policies that ensure equitable distribution of learners, teachers, and infrastructure across all institutions.

The KUPPET Narok boss proposed a structured cap on the number of streams per school category to balance enrollment nationwide.

Under the proposal, national schools would host up to eight streams per class, extra-county schools six, county schools four and sub-county schools two, with each classroom accommodating no more than 45 learners.

Tasur argued that such a model would promote fairness, enhance participation in co-curricular activities, curb indiscipline and eliminate unhealthy competition for limited admission slots in a few high-profile schools.

“As KUPPET Narok Branch, we will not allow closure of any school,” Tasur stated, calling on the government to engage education stakeholders and communities before implementing reforms that could have far-reaching consequences for learners and teachers alike.

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The debate follows recent remarks by Basic Education Principal Secretary Julius Bitok, who announced that the ministry is considering merging secondary schools with low or zero enrollment as part of broader reforms in the education sector.

Speaking at a public event on Saturday, Bitok said some institutions are operating far below capacity, making it difficult to justify continued allocation of teachers and capitation funds.

He explained that merging such schools would allow the government to optimize resources and convert underutilized facilities into more useful public institutions, while expanding high-enrollment schools through construction of additional classrooms and dormitories.

However, he did not provide a specific timeline for implementation or clarify which schools would be affected — issues that have since sparked concern among stakeholders.

By Philip Koech