Prof Magoha was a solid leader but a poor listener - Akelo Misori

Teachers trade union leader AKELO MISORI explains to MIKE KIHAKI why walimu need bigger pay, and the problem with boarding

Teachers are demanding yet another pay rise. Why?

Teachers have been resilient in the last three years during Covid-19 when everything else folded up. They never complained despite the harsh conditions they worked under.

This is one reason we believe they should be rewarded. Secondly, the Teachers Act demands that teachers' salaries be improved every after five years, but the last time we received a salary increase was seven years ago.

But the Education minister says the economy cannot absorb the pay hike?

We cannot say the government is unable to sustain the teachers' well-being. We know the economy is not favourable at the moment. However, no serious government can compromise crucial sectors such as education, health and security because it has no money. The government is making steps to employ 35,550 teachers in January, and in the same vein, it must improve the salary scale for all serving teachers.

In addition, the government should be ready to invest in teachers to ensure a meaningful transition of the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC).

Can Kenyans expect another crippling teachers' strike?

We don't expect to reach that stage since the government has shown signs of listening to education stakeholders. We have given our proposals to them and we have been assured that they are deliberating upon them. The Teachers Service Commission also indicated during the Teachers Day celebrations that they are negotiating with the government to improve teachers' pay. We know and believe that we shall have something on the table before schools open.

What five key issues would the Union like President Ruto's government to prioritize?

We would look to the Head of State to address how to improve teachers' salaries, promotion of teachers who have stagnated in the same Job Group and also those teachers who have been acting as Principals, Deputy Principals and Heads of Departments be confirmed. In addition, we expect the government to employ more teachers to narrow the learner-teacher ratio gap. I think we will wait to see enhanced funding to learning institutions in order to reduce the cost of learning especially with the emerging CBC expense on parents.

What is your position on the plan to ban boarding in primary school?

Boarding school was intended to assist those parents who had challenges finding time to be with their children due to career progression or nature of their work. However, many parents have abused the concept by dumping very young children on teachers. It is time for parents to find time and know the progression of their school going children.

The decision to domicile Junior Secondary in primary schools should see majority of boarding schools reverting to day school.

Are secondary schools prepared to handle CBC students?

As Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers, we clearly pronounced our stand that junior secondary be hosted in high schools. This was because the teachers are well trained to handle the curriculum the learners are expected to take. In addition, secondary schools have the infrastructure to teach the new curriculum compared to the primary schools which have to start struggling to put them in place.

As a professional, don't you think it's damaging for teachers to clear a syllabus two terms ahead of schedule?

It's not prudent for teachers to rush learners through the syllabus for the sake of completion. However, some schools have mechanisms in place to ensure that they have some extra time for revision so that the slow learners can be taken through the system holistically to match with the rest.

Many big schools are ridiculously overcrowded. What is the toll on school principals?

National School Principals endure a lot of pressure. During the posting of learners after sitting the Kenya Certificate of Primary Education examination, such schools admit students more than the class and dormitory capacity. This overflow strains the institutions' infrastructure which in turn forces heads to put up makeshift classrooms or dormitories to cater for the students.

Several teachers are members of Parliament. What issues would you like them to canvas?

As a Union, we take great pride in having teachers in a decision-making organ of government. Since they are part of the teaching fraternity and understand issues bedevilling the sector, we look forward to seeing them spearhead issues concerning teachers' salary increment, promotion, delocalization and employment of more teachers on the floor of the House.

Most Kenyan schools are extremely unfriendly to learners with disability. What needs to be done?

The learning environment in our institutions is not supportive to persons with disability to the extent of exposing them to danger and ridicule. The government should ensure schools include disability concerns in their infrastructure plans such as walking rails, toilets, school buses and curriculum development. This include the physically disabled, and those who are blind and deaf.

Political leaders were criticized for making KCPE candidates nervous by walking into exam venues. What's your view?

The Kenyan education system is riddled with mistrust which prompts the government to bring in external examiners. This affects most candidates leading to poor performance. However, the worst of all is the militarization of our exams. I believe with the new system, the cutthroat competition we are accustomed to will be reduced and assessments will be school-based.

Do other African countries make a similar fuss about exams?

Developed countries have advanced systems for the administration of examinations. In South Africa, for instance, teachers collect examination materials from the ministry's containers on Monday, store them in a school-strong room where they distribute them on a daily basis. After each exam paper, they are returned to the strong room until all the papers for the entire week are administered, which are then returned to the container.

When results are announced, you will only realize in the evening with the winners thronging the streets to celebrate the results.

How would you describe former Education CS Prof. George Magoha?

Prof. Magoha was a go-getter. He would do anything to achieve his goal despite surrounding noises. He was brought to the education docket to fix things and he made many reforms. During his time he ensured integrity returned to our exams. He is the only CS who has ensured such number of classrooms in our schools.

However, he sometimes never listened to anyone and bulldozed what he saw was right. The CS crippled structure in the ministry since he was all over doing what field officers are meant to do.