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Ex-KNUT Secretary General Wilson Sossion has defended school principals against blame over rising student unrest, saying discipline is a shared responsibility involving parents, teachers, school boards, government agencies and the wider community.
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He called for stronger stakeholder collaboration, better funding for quality assurance, and early intervention to prevent school crises.
Former Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) Secretary General Wilson Sossion has defended school principals against growing criticism over rising cases of student unrest, arguing that maintaining discipline in schools is a collective responsibility that should not be placed solely on school administrators.
Speaking during a forum convened to examine the recent wave of unrest in schools following the destruction at Utumishi Academy, Sossion dismissed attempts to single out principals as being primarily responsible for student indiscipline.
He said effective school management requires the active involvement of all stakeholders, including parents, boards of management, teachers, quality assurance officers and the wider community.
“The management of schools should never be left to the principal alone. Every stakeholder has a role to play in ensuring institutions operate smoothly,” he said.
Sossion noted that many schools with strong discipline records have succeeded because they foster close collaboration between school administrations and stakeholders through regular workshops and consultative forums that identify and address emerging challenges before they escalate into crises.
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He emphasized that teamwork remains the most effective strategy for reducing school unrest, which has in recent years resulted in destruction of property and, in some cases, loss of lives.
“Children are raised by society, not by individuals alone. Everyone must take responsibility for shaping their values and behaviour,” he said.
The former KNUT boss warned against the growing culture of blame among education stakeholders, saying society should instead focus on identifying the root causes of indiscipline and addressing them collectively.
He also expressed concern over the erosion of societal values, accusing some political leaders of setting poor examples through inflammatory rhetoric and violent conduct during political campaigns.
According to Sossion, students may be emulating adults who resort to violence and destruction of property to express grievances, a trend he said calls for a fundamental shift in how society handles protests and conflict.
“Young people learn from what they see. When leaders engage in verbal attacks and tolerate destruction of property, children are likely to copy the same behaviour,” he observed.
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On disciplinary measures, Sossion acknowledged that schools face increasing challenges following the outlawing of corporal punishment. While maintaining that he does not support the return of the cane, he said schools should be allowed to adopt firmer disciplinary measures, including expelling students involved in serious acts of violence and arson.
He further argued that students who commit criminal offences should face the justice system, saying prosecuting offenders would help deter similar incidents and protect lives and property.
Sossion also called for the strengthening and adequate funding of the Ministry of Education’s Quality Assurance and Standards departments to enable early detection of warning signs that could lead to unrest.
He said proactive monitoring and timely intervention would help prevent violent strikes and improve safety in schools across the country.
By Robert Nyagah,
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