Tension is brewing at Kochiy Senior School in West Pokot County following public outcry over the glaring gender imbalance among the teaching staff, which education stakeholders say is affecting learners’ social development and academic performance.
The school, located in the remote parts of Kipkomo Sub-county, reportedly has an overwhelming number of male teachers compared to their female counterparts.
The situation that parents and community leaders have described as “unhealthy” and “discriminatory.”
Concerned residents argue that the absence of a balanced teaching staff denies students, especially girls, critical mentorship and guidance from female role models.
“Our daughters need to see women leading in education. It encourages them to dream bigger,” said a parent at the school.
Stakeholders have now called on the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) and the Ministry of Education to urgently address the matter by deploying female teachers to the institution.
They say that gender diversity within schools promotes a healthier learning environment and contributes to the holistic development of learners.
The school’s administration, while acknowledging the imbalance, insists that recruitment and deployment are handled at the national level.
“We have raised this issue several times. The matter is beyond our control,” said a senior staff member who requested anonymity.
Education officials have also confirmed receiving similar complaints from other institutions within the region, noting that staffing challenges in arid and semi-arid areas often discourage female teachers from accepting postings in remote schools due to security and infrastructure concerns.
Local leaders have urged the government to implement gender-responsive staffing policies to ensure fair representation in all schools.
They also want improved facilities, security, and incentives to attract and retain female teachers in hardship areas.
As the debate continues, parents at Kochiy Senior School remain hopeful that reforms will soon balance the scale and offer their children an environment that values both gender equality and academic excellence.
By our reporter
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