Education ministry raises red flag on holiday coaching, insists it consulted teachers on learning hours

The Ministry of Education has warned schools against holiday coaching, saying teachers doing so will be punished.

The ministry yesterday said all public and private schools had closed for the August holidays in line with guidelines of the Ministry of Education 2018 school calendar that fixed August 3, 2018, as the last day of term two.

“The ministry has received information that some schools plan to mount various programmes of holiday tuition for learners. The management of all schools are accordingly advised against holding any holiday tuition as this is in contravention of Section 37 of the Basic Education Act that outlaws the practice,” siad Kennedy Buhere, a communications officer.

Appropriate action

He warned that appropriate disciplinary and criminal proceedings would be taken against schools and teachers who contravened the laws and regulations against holiday tuition.

“Parents should take time to be with their children and discuss issues affecting them in their studies,” said Mr Buhere.

Due to indiscipline cases that have rocked schools during second term, the ministry alerted parents that some students were tampering with their end-term exam results

“All parents are urged to be vigilant and confirm with their respective schools the authenticity of their individual children’s scores,” said Buhere.

He said all schools would reopen for third term on August 27, 2018, and appropriate action would be taken against school management in cases where institutions open early.

He insisted that the ministry should consult teachers and other stakeholders before issuing orders on school learning hours and other regulations.

“The ministry conducted consultations with appropriate stakeholders before issuing Basic Education Regulations, 2015, which operationalise the Basic Education Act, 2013,” he said.

Operating time

He added that the regulations provide, among other guidelines, the official operating hours for all day and boarding public or private institutions.

He said the then Cabinet Secretary for Education Jacob Kaimenyi issued the regulations under Legal Notice 39 on April 8, 2015.

Last week, Education Cabinet Secretary Amina Mohamed directed primary and secondary schools to adhere to the official operating hours for all day public or private institutions.