By Christopher Kipsetim Kimosop
The proposed changes in the Basic Education Act 2013 are already eliciting a lot of controversy.
Of particular interest is the proposal to hire professional managers to handle financial matters and all other issues related to institutional resources. This, put simply, takes away managerial duties from the head teacher and principal.
As things currently stand, the heads (head teachers and principals) handle and oversee, on behalf of Board of Management (BOM), issues related to school support staff, supplies to the institution, procurement and a whole chain of commitments related to the institution.
The proposed situation will definitely leave school heads to handle duties and responsibilities which have conventionally been the preserve of their deputies.
Deputy heads have always handled curriculum implementation nitty-gritties in consultation with the head of the institution. They include day-to-day happenings in the school and in the classroom, student discipline and general supervisory role.
According to TSC Act, and in particular the TSC Code of Regulations for teachers Part V on Recruitment, Appointment, Assignment and Deployment Section 69 to 71, the whole matter of duties and responsibilities of a school head is spelled out.
With regard to management of institution funds and resources, Section 71(2) (i) and (j) are explicit on the role of head of institution.
(i) Supporting implementation of the education policy developed by the Cabinet Secretary responsible for the time being of matters related to education and training;
j) Ensuring proper management and maintenance of the institutional resources.
The proposal to have professional school managers comes at a time when systems have over recent years been progressively enhanced by the Ministry of Education for more accountability in resource utilisation and general management especially of what cascades from Treasury through the ministry. Who then is dissatisfied with what is already in place?
Would it be that the structures and framework of what is in place is not adequate or that the people who are in charge are incapable of executing their mandate or that some at the ministry are itchy to have their fingers on school funds?
It is noteworthy that there has been a long standing simmering war between TSC and MOE mandarins with regard to teacher management and control. Would this new development be related in any way to this old feud? Only time will tell.
It would appear to the layman, though, that the ministry is not happy that the head teacher is handling billions of capitation money on its behalf. These are monies the ministry has no control over. The authority to incur expenditure (AIE) lies with the school head.
The ministry can only get a glimpse of the goings-on in schools through its Audit Services Section, the guidelines through the office of the CDE and its involvement in BOM. Beyond that, it is the call of the head teacher and principal.
Curiously, Education CS George Magoha is on record lamenting that Kenya’s Ministry of Education is the only one in the region which has no control over teachers.
Ordinarily, the proposal by MOE implies that the school manager will take over the duties of head teacher and principal.
While the heads will not be fired, the terms and conditions, duties and responsibilities will be redefined or readjusted. This means that in one simple and single action, the wage bill will balloon.
There are other attendant issues which will be automatically generated by having these two heads in one institution. There will definitely be two centres of power with its known aftereffects. Can we afford this as a country?
Introducing professional managers can solve the problem of mismanagement of learning institutions but can also create a bigger problem. It would be like extinguishing a small fire and starting a bigger one and expecting to put a smile on everyone’s face.
In executing the proposed changes, the ministry should consider making proposals for appropriate amendments to not just the Basic Education Act but also the TSC Act.
The writer is well known educationist and social commentator.
