Parents Close Uasin Gishu School Over Lack of Junior Secondary School Teachers
Muget Primary School in Moiben Uasin Gishu County faced a major disruption in its normal school program when a group of angry parents stormed the premises and locked all the classrooms.
Their protest stemmed from their dissatisfaction with the lack of teachers assigned to Junior Secondary School (JSS) pupils in the school.
The parents expressed their frustration at both the county and national levels of the Ministry of Education, accusing them of neglecting their children’s education.
According to the parents, only two JSS teachers were appointed to teach a staggering 45 pupils.
Equipped with padlocks and placards, the protesting parents highlighted the adverse consequences of the teacher shortage.
They claimed that JSS pupils had been unable to learn effectively due to the lack of teachers, books, and other essential resources.
One parent, Jackson Kwambai, voiced his anger, stating, “We as parents are furious because there is only one teacher responsible for 14 subjects. If this system does not perform well, it should be abolished, and we should return to the 8-4-4 system.”
Reuben Kipchumba, another parent, expressed concerns about the future of the next generation, emphasizing the government’s responsibility to improve the students’ learning environment and ensure their educational progress.
The parents criticized the school’s infrastructure, placing blame on both the school management and the county government’s education department for their perceived negligence.
Jennifer Keter lamented, “We have been facing problems because the school management is lacking, and even the classrooms do not meet the required standards.”
Martin Egesa further highlighted the poor state of the classrooms, asserting, “There is no electricity, as the funds necessary for its provision have not been allocated. If this situation persists, how can our children study in the evenings? Moreover, the classrooms resemble cowsheds, with deteriorating walls and crumbling cement.”
The parents demanded immediate intervention from the Ministry of Education to address the issues at hand and ensure that their children can resume their education on par with other JSS pupils nationwide.
Consequently, they closed down the school until all the necessary requirements, including books, teachers, and improved infrastructure, are fulfilled, or alternatively, until their children are allowed to return to the previous 8-4-4 system.
This unrest puts the education of 350 pupils at stake. Muget Primary School, established in 1988, now faces an uncertain future as the resolution to these grievances remains unresolved.
Parents Close Uasin Gishu School Over Lack of Junior Secondary School Teachers
