Western Regional Director of Education (RDE) has told politicians in Western Region to keep off the management of educational institutions and leave the role to the school heads who have been posted by the government to manage them.
Jared Obireo, the RDE, said politicians in western have been interfering with operations in institutional, especially in secondary schools, as they dictate ‘who should be the principal and where.’
He said that he respects the good role played by political leadership in financial support to institutions but he told them the issue of the management of schools should be left to the officials of the Ministry of Education only.
“The Principal have been posted to the schools by the Ministry of Education through TSC, which is a constitutional commission, we don’t want politicians to write long letter degrading Principals who are performing their duties,” said Obiero.
Obiero added that if any Principal has done anything which is unlawful, the Ministry of Education have Quality Assurance and Standards officials who should be informed for them to conduct an investigation and come up with informed decisions in accordance with the laws.
Obiero who was speaking during Kakamega County KESSHA conference, held at Kunste Hotel in Nakuru County, told politicians to go low as their comments as they can degrade the performance of performing schools.
He said that as Ministry officials, they respect all education stakeholders and urged them to contribute positively towards education.
“We will not mix politics with the running of the education institution. We urged anybody with valid complains about any institutional heads in Western Region to visit Regional Quality Assured and Standard office so that our officers can conduct investigation on any issue raised,” said Obiero.
He said that as Education officers, they will remain professional on their duties.
Obiero also use the opportunity to ask school principals to improve the level of hygiene in their schools.
The Regional Director told Principals to ensure all food handlers in the school have certificates form Public Health office so that only accredited food handlers are allowed to be in school. He asked them to also ensure their schools have certified medical officers.
“When students are sick ,don’t tell them that they fear examination, instead let school trained nurse or clinical officer to attend to them and if their situation get worse let them referred to a higher medical Institution to get treatment,” said Obiero.
By Peter Otuoro
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