Teachers using tricks to hold tuition

By Philip Mwakio

A number of schools are now using tricks to force fatigued students to learn thus contravening the Government ban on holiday tuition, a top education official has warned.

Speaking to The Standard on the sidelines of the Kenya Private Schools Association 16th directors’ annual general meeting, Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (KICD) director Dr Lydia Nzomo said the spirit behind the ban has been misunderstood by many.

She condemned teachers who have been flouting the ban by having students disguise themselves by wearing civilian clothing instead of school uniforms to escape being detected.

“Students are now disguising themselves when it comes to learning. There is always the attention span being eroded when pupils are forced to stay in class for very long hours where they lose concentration,” she pointed out.

Dr Nzomo said that by using these kinds of tricks, teachers were putting pressure on pupils to engage in fraud.

“By having the children in holiday tuition sessions, we might be asking too much from them. Children must be allowed to be children, have time to play, be creative and innovative at the same time,” she said.

Misgivings

Former Education minister Mutula Kilonzo’s directive against holiday tuition has been received with a lot of misgivings by a section of stakeholders in the education sector, including parents.

Through a circular by former Education Permanent Secretary Prof Karega Mutahi dated July 18, 2008, the Government banned weekends, after class hours and holiday tuition that involved full-day classes.

The KICD director explained the ban was made in the best interest of learners and aimed at having an education system that creates children who would be problem solvers and critical thinkers.

“It is imperative to note that while every step to ensure conducive learning is taken into consideration, it is important that ample rest time be accorded to enable the pupils excel in other spheres apart from education,” she said.

The Teachers Service Commission code of conduct and ethics prohibits a teacher from charging or accepting any fee for tuition from a student outside official working hours.