TSC Interdicts 6 Kisii Teachers Who Recorded Disturbing Video of Pupils Doing Indecent Act
The recent arrests of six teachers from Itumbe DOK Primary School have sparked concern among education stakeholders in Kenya.
The teachers were apprehended after a video of them giving students answers to an exam went viral on social media.
The police stated that the source of the video was the school and that one of the teachers had confessed to sharing it with her colleague.
The police were recording statements from the minors and other stakeholders and were seeking to hold the suspects for an additional seven days.
The Education Cabinet Secretary, Ezekiel Machogu, was also monitoring the situation and ordered the suspects to face disciplinary action.
Following their arrests and subsequent interdiction, the school is now facing a crisis, with only one teacher left to attend to the students.
The teachers’ lawyer, Edward Begi, pleaded with the court on Thursday, January 2, to have the teachers released, arguing that their absence would have a negative impact on the students’ education.
He noted that no clear charges had been preferred against the teachers, and therefore, it was unjustified to detain them for 14 days as the police had requested.
Begi pointed out that the Junior Secondary School (JSS) students would be particularly affected, as no new teacher had been posted to take care of them.
The lawyer argued that the teachers had a role to play in the education system and that it was imperative for them to be released so that they could go back to the class.
He questioned who would be responsible for the education of the rest of the students if the teachers were detained for 14 days.
The viral video, which showed the boys crying and posing indecently as the teachers watched and laughed, attracted widespread attention and condemnation.
The police stated that one of the teachers noted that a pupil had reported the incident to them during break time.
The teachers reportedly claimed that they only wanted the pupils to demonstrate what they were doing.
However, the teachers were also heard threatening to beat the students if they failed to comply with their orders.
The police officer handling the case reassured the public that the grade two pupils who were the victims of the act will get justice.
The police also explained that they had confiscated the teachers’ phones before questioning them.
The Education Cabinet Secretary emphasized that if the teachers were found guilty, they would lose their jobs.
The incident has sparked outrage and concern amongst parents, teachers, and education experts.
Many are calling for stricter measures to be put in place to protect the rights of pupils and to ensure that they are not subjected to such abuse in schools.
The police are working tirelessly to bring the perpetrators to justice and to restore the confidence of parents in the school system.
The matter is expected to be determined by Ogembo Senior Principal Magistrate Paul Biwott on Friday, January 3.
In the meantime, the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) has demanded that the teachers provide a written response to the allegations against them within 21 days.
However, Education Cabinet Secretary Ezekiel Machogu and TSC boss Nancy Macharia are yet to comment on the replacement of the arrested teachers.
The recent arrests have once again brought to the fore the issue of teacher misconduct in Kenya and the need for stricter measures to be put in place to curb such practices.
The education sector is a crucial component of any society, and it is imperative that the teachers responsible for imparting knowledge and shaping the future of the students be held accountable for their actions.
The ongoing situation in Itumbe DOK Primary School highlights the need for swift action to be taken to restore normalcy and ensure the continued education of the students.
TSC Interdicts 6 Kisii Teachers Who Recorded Disturbing Video of Pupils Doing Indecent Act
