The Education Stakeholders Association of Kenya (ESAK) has threatened to move to court to compel the Ministry of Education to withdraw circulars banning holiday tuitions, arguing that teachers are professionals, and every professional has a right to benefit financially from his/her profession.
Led by the National Secretary, Ndung’u Wangenye, the association said that just like doctors who benefit from their profession by charging consultation fee from patients, the same case with lawyers who benefit from legal fee from their clients, the same case with engineers and the like. Teaching should not be exceptional.
“As long as a teacher is registered he/she has a right to benefit by charging preliquisite fee from parents of the students he is teaching or coaching at any time whether school are in session or not.” Wangenye said.
He added that if the Ministry of Education and Teachers Service Commission (TSC) doesn’t want teachers to conduct holiday tuition and charge the parents for the same they should pay them Non Practising Allowance just like in other professions.
ALSO READ:
Teacher unions to meet TSC today over contentious SHA health cover
Wangenya further reiterated that various circulars by the Ministry banning holiday tuition is a spat in the face of reputable profession of teaching and teachers should ignore it. He maintained that they will challenge the validity of that circular in court, urging the ministry to immediately withdraw those circulars.
He added that parliament also should move with speed and pass the law establishing Professional Body for teachers just like other professions in order to regulate standards, professional practices and ethical conduct and uproot masqueraders who are not registered teachers conducting private tuition particularly during holidays and evenings.
“TSC is an employer but not a regulatory body in this one they should not interfere.” He added
This follows after the Ministry of Education released a circular banning and prohibiting teachers from conducting holiday tuitions.
By Juma Ndigo
You can also follow our social media pages on Twitter: Education News KE and Facebook: Education News Newspaper for timely updates.
>>> Click here to stay up-to-date with trending regional stories
>>> Click here to read more informed opinions on the country’s education landscape
