By Erick Nyayiera
Kenya Secondary Schools Heads Association (KESSHA) has disclosed that principals are working under immense pressure from the Ministry of Education, a move that threatens proper service delivery.
National Chairman Kahi Indimuli said that the education sector was facing abrupt system changes and school heads have had to brave harsh working environment to satisfy the needs of the employer.
“KESSHA raises concern over the manner of intimidation that the Ministry is giving to school heads, there are bundles of new regulation and policies that must be addressed in a huff despite short notices, we feel this is not being fair to us,” said Indimuli.
The Chairman also noted that the NEMIS system of uploading data to determine the number of students in the country for proper planning was also posing a major challenge since the birth certificates produced by the students were not tallying and the ministry says it’s not their role to produce the birth certificates.
“The system does not allow for correction of errors, when a student transfers to another school and you update, the system. It does not tally yet when there are such inconsistencies it’s the Principal who will be surcharged,” Indimuli revealed.
He pointed out that there is a possibility of the Ministry of Education funding more students next year when the current form fours exit because the system still reflect them since there is no provision for editing and making corrections.
“Maranda High School Principal is expected to verify information on 629 candidates when students and teachers are home and the students insist they give corrections and signs the document four times yet some come with errors especially when they enter subjects that they don’t do. In the end the Principal is surcharged,” regretted Indimuli.
He said “Please go on updating other relevant information since we have requested for an extension to complete the data entry.” On free education funds, the Chairman noted that some schools were benefitting much than others.
“National Schools benefit way much than other schools; we buy the same maize at the same price at the same market. We also fault the Ministry on the manner in which infrastructure funds are given to schools because some schools benefit more than others hence we appeal to the Ministry to use the County Directors of Education to supply information on schools in their jurisdiction that really needs assistance,” said Indimuli.
On the ongoing delocalisation process, the Chairman noted the move was welcome but observed that it ought to be conducted in a more humane manner.
“We should be given more time to prepare for handover and takeover,” he said.
The Chairman made the remarks in Kisumu town during the 7th Annual KESSHA conference Siaya County Chapter themed ‘Redirecting Education Sector in Kenya’ where he also disclosed that KESSHA will negotiate a special medical cover for principals different from the AON- MINET medical health insurance for the teachers.
“Latest research indicates that most heads were dying because of cardiac arrest owing to the job pressure we find ourselves in, we need a different health insurance cover. We have insisted as heads that we must agitate for a special service and details will be released soon,” Indimuli noted.
Indimuli also observed the challenge posed by the NHIF cover for students since it does not factor modalities of managing student absenteeism especially when sick.
