Mombasa is set to host close to 10,000 principals for the 48th annual national delegates’ conference of the Kenya Secondary School Heads Association (KESSHA), a week-long forum at the traditional Sheikh Zayed Hall in Nyali constituency.
The event which is sponsored by Kenya Commercial Bank (KCB), and themed ‘Embracing Pathways in Senior School Education’, will address critical issues facing the country’s education sector, including the contentious return of school fees.
A major point of contention at the conference is expected to be the government’s proposed withdrawal of free day secondary education (FCSE), a policy introduced during the late President Mwai Kibaki’s era. This move to reintroduce school fees comes at a time of significant economic hardship for many Kenyans and follows a reduction in the education sector’s allocation in this year’s national financial budget.
The potential reintroduction of fees is poised to dominate discussions among the gathered head teachers.
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Deputy President Kithure Kindiki will be the chief guest on the third day, after officially opening this year’s KESSHA conference. This will mark his first official opening of a teachers’ meeting since his elevation, providing a direct engagement with a sector currently grappling with considerable uncertainty and confusion.
Mombasa Governor Abdulswamad Shariff Nassir, as host, is also listed among the speakers for both the opening and closing days.
The conference will feature a high-profile line-up of speakers. National Treasury and Economic Planning Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi is expected to address delegates on the official opening day.
The outgoing Teachers Service Commission CEO/Secretary Nancy Macharia will also have a session a day after the opening, where she is expected to discuss the role of teachers and stakeholders in implementing educational pathways before proceeding on retirement and annual leave.
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Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Bare Duale will have a field day with head teachers on the second day of the conference with the topic on Strengthening School Health Systems for a Healthier Nation: The Role of School Leadership in Advancing the SHA Agenda.
The conference will conclude with Education Cabinet Secretary Dr. Julius Migos Ogamba, who is anticipated to address the pending hiring of 40,000 out of 100,000 teachers and discuss the safety of learners in the North Rift region due to insecurity.
By Cornelius Korir
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