Vihiga: Stakeholders in the education sector have raised concerns over the state of secondary education, citing challenges related to student discipline, inadequate funding, and the welfare of learners as key issues affecting learning institutions. Speaking during an interview at Vihiga FM, Vihiga Branch Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) Executive Secretary Charles Otiende said there was a need to change the way secondary school learners are perceived and handled.
According to Kenya News Agency, Otiende noted that secondary school students are adolescents transitioning into adulthood and should be guided accordingly. ‘These are not small children; they are young people who understand themselves, their rights and what they want in life. What they need is guidance,’ he said. He observed that the Competency-Based Education (CBE) curriculum is designed to nurture independent and critical thinkers, adding that education stakeholders must adopt approaches that align with the maturity levels of learners.
Otiende emphasized that treating teenagers as young children may lead to resistance, misunderstandings, and, in some cases, unrest within schools. The KUPPET official also defended the professionalism of teachers, noting that educators undergo rigorous training before joining the profession. However, he acknowledged that many teachers work under challenging conditions, including overcrowded classrooms and limited teaching resources.
Student unrest, particularly school strikes, was identified as a growing concern. Otiende attributed some of the incidents to pressure that accumulates within learning institutions. ‘When pressure builds up, sometimes giving students time away can help calm the situation before learning resumes,’ he said. Funding constraints were also highlighted as a major challenge facing schools. Otiende clarified that government capitation alone is insufficient to meet all operational needs of schools, especially boarding institutions where costs are significantly higher.
A resident, Jeofrey Almasa, who participated in the discussion, echoed the concerns and criticized the perception that the government caters for all school expenses. ‘We cannot keep blaming schools when parents are not paying fees. The idea that the government pays everything is misleading,’ said Almasa. He noted that financial difficulties often force schools to make difficult decisions, including reducing meal portions or scaling down certain programmes, actions that may be misinterpreted by students and parents.
The two speakers emphasized the need for parents to play a more proactive role in supporting schools through timely payment of fees and providing guidance to their children. They also called on school administrations to enhance communication and transparency to foster trust and minimize misunderstandings among stakeholders. The discussion concluded with a call for collective action to address challenges facing the education sector. Otiende urged parents, teachers, school managers, and policymakers to work together in finding sustainable solutions that will improve learning outcomes and strengthen the education system.
