The Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET), Kisumu chapter, has called for a review of the age limits imposed by the Ministry of Education on students participating in school games.
The Union has raised concerns over the treatment of Junior Secondary School (JSS) students involved in the ongoing Term One Games.
KUPPET area executive secretary Zablon Awange noted that JSS teachers currently involved in Term One Games and athletics are complaining about age limits.
According to the official, many students in JSS have been disenfranchised and denied opportunities to play because of Ministry of Education guidelines.
Awange said the guidelines stipulate that participants in the primary must be at least 12 years old.
He said Junior secondary must be precisely 15 years old and below, and senior secondary must be 18 years old and below.
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Awange said many talented students are thus denied a chance in the current JSS games for being even 15 years and one month.
He said KUPPET Kisumu demands a review of these guidelines to increase the age by at least two years, if not to scrap it altogether.
Awange said most students join primary school in village areas at varied ages compared to urban areas, where it’s earlier at three years, and baby care centres act as part-time schools. In villages, they may start at seven years old.
The official said the whole concept negates the aims of CBC, which he noted is geared to unearth talents with pathways that may allow a talented student to pursue sports.
He feared that imposing an age limit would prevent him from achieving this feat and jeopardise the implementation of CBC’s objectives and goals.
“We demand the age limit for JSS be increased before the start of term two ball games because it beats logic to deny a 16-year-old a chance to play JSS games from where he can be spotted by professional clubs,” he said.
Awange added that such requirements are not included in other c0-curricular activities like music, drama, and academics.
The official said JSS teachers are complaining that their well-trained students are denied the chance to showcase their talent and prove that CBC is working.
He gave the Ministry one month to review the guidelines. “We will demand that the Term Two ball games not be done until this is done,” he said.
Awange said the trend would lead to mass dropouts by JSS students who intend to follow a sports pathway if this circular is not reviewed. This may compromise access to education and 100 per cent transition government policy.
By Fredrick Odiero
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