Teachers' union fault ministry for 14 pupils’ deaths

Kakamega Primary School parents and pupils follow proceedings on Feb, 10, 2020 when county interdenominational churches conducted prayers after the loss of 14 pupils. [Benjamin Sakwa/Standard]

Teachers unions' officials have faulted the Ministry of Education for death of 14 students of Kakamega Primary School.

Leaders of the Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) and Kenya Post Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) during a requiem mass at Bukhungu Stadium for the 13 pupils who died in the Monday Stampede said failure by the ministry to implement the safety measures in schools was to blame for the deaths.

KNUT Secretary-General Wilson Sossion alleged that the deaths could have been prevented if the Government had implemented the 2008 introduced safety regulations for schools.

“Negligence by the Ministry of Education resulted to the death of these 14 innocent pupils. Section 64-66 of the Education Act in the Kenyan Constitution demands quality assurance and standard report and committee in every region, which has not been done in Kakamega,” Mr Sossion said.

He blamed Education CS George Magoha for not establishing the Education Standard and Quality Assurance Committee in the region that would ensure safety of students in both primary and secondary schools.

“We must have a public health report in every school including the affected ones to prevent such scenarios. Secondly, we want inspection report of public works as well as quality assurance report from the ministry. That would reduce cases of students’ deaths in our schools,” he said.

Sossion also advised that the school infrastructure building to be devolved and be enhanced in terms of funding to ensure that quality buildings are erected.

KUPPET Chairman Omboko Milemba said it was saddening to see leaders faulting each other and prompting action only when such a disastrous event occurred.

“A time has come when we need security and safety department in our schools. The truth is that some of our schools are time bound. The government should close such schools to pave way for development of infrastructure in such schools,” he said.