The Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) Secretary General, Akello Misori has slammed parents for harassing school heads and locking up learning institutions, saying they should take greater responsibility for their children’s academic performance instead of resorting to protests and school lockouts when results disappoint.
Speaking during a morning show on a local television, Misori condemned the growing trend of parents demonstrating against schools over poor examination results, arguing that guardians have a significant role to play in their children’s education.
“I condemn the act of parents locking schools and demonstrating over poor results. There is a lot that can be done by parents as well,” Misori stated, pointing to the need for shared accountability between schools and families.
The union boss also addressed the ongoing challenges surrounding the transition of students to Grade 10, pouring cold water on the government’s approach to categorizing schools.
He argued that institutions should be defined by their capacity and resources rather than arbitrary status labels such as national or extra-county schools.
“We have not been bold to define what a school is based on what they do and not status, be it national or extra-county,” Misori observed, noting that the current system perpetuates inequality and creates unnecessary pressure on certain institutions.
He further stressed that adequate staffing remains a critical issue affecting the quality of education across the country.
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According to Misori, the government must ensure schools receive sufficient teachers based on their student populations to maintain educational standards.
“The government needs to provide teachers who can manage schools with their number of students. If this is not resolved, we will still have issues with parents flocking few schools looking for slots,” he warned.
The Union leader also took aim at the Teachers Service Commission (TSC), accusing the body of poor planning in the distribution of teaching staff across schools.
This imbalance, he suggested, contributes to the perception that some schools are superior to others, driving parents to scramble for limited places in perceived top-performing institutions.
Misori expressed concern over the persistent stigma surrounding day schools, questioning why these institutions and their teachers face discrimination despite educators receiving identical training.
“There is a challenge; there are those who disregard those attending day schools. Why should this happen yet the teachers went through the same university?” he asked.
By Juma Ndigo
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