School heads finally get scheme of service

By Patrick Beja and Linah Benyawa

Prime Minister Raila Odinga put a smile on the faces of 22,000 public primary school heads in Mombasa, when he revealed they would, for the first time, get a scheme of service. Their secondary school counterparts also cheered the government for approving the scheme, which also affect 5000 school heads and principals. Raila told them he had directed the Ministry of Education to develop a comprehensive scheme of service for them reflecting their roles as chief executive officers of their institutions. "You have made a proposal to the Government for a scheme of service and I have given instruction to the Minister for Education to that effect," Raila said. He spoke when closing the annual delegates conference of the Kenya Primary School Head teachers Association (Kepsha) at Sheikh Sayed Hall in Mombasa.

The teachers and Kenya National Union of Teachers (Knut) officials led by Secretary General Lawrence Majali, jubilated and thanked the Government for approving the scheme. School heads had been pushing the Government to approve the scheme for the last two years. Education Minister Sam Ongeri accepted the proposal when school heads presented him with a memorandum during the 2008 teachers strike. The Minister, however, differed with Knut and Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (Kuppet) leaders when he demanded they withdraw from trade unions.

Sources from the ministry say school heads will now relinquish their union membership and sign performance contracts.

Prime Minister Raila Odinga meets primary school head teachers during the closing ceremony of the sixth annual conference in Mombasa. The premier announced the Government had approved the proposal for a teachers’ scheme of service. [PHOTO: OMONDI ONYANGO/STANDARD]

Kenya Secondary Schools Heads Association Chairman Cleophas Tirop told The Standard the teachers will have to forfeit their union membership for them in order to enjoy the new privileges. "These are some of the automatic things that come with these reforms," said Mr Tirop.

School heads have until now been serving as volunteers without responsibility allowance, leading to a high turnover of those leaving for other jobs. With performance contracts, they will now be expected to be accountable and enhance quality in their schools.

The job will also attract professional and qualified personnel teaching in local universities because of the better remuneration.

Currently, teachers are classified into three categories of non-graduate, graduate and technical teachers, with most school heads being handpicked from the graduate category. The Prime Minister told them the Government was committed to uplifting education standards to achieve middle in-come status.

Also present were Education Assistant Minister Calist Mwatela, Teachers Service Commission Chairman Ibrahim Hussein, Education Secretary George Godia, Coast PDE Tom Majani, Kenya National Parents Association Chairman Musau Ndunda and Kisauni MP Hassan Joho.

"You are managers of teachers and you must be truly recognised as CEOs of the schools by getting a scheme of service," Raila said.

He said this required the State to pay attention to manpower development, which begins at the level where the primary school heads are engaged. He observed that Kenya has been in the league of poor countries for the last 47 years, with its leaders begging rich countries to raise salaries for public servants.

"It is shameful as a leader to run around the world with a begging basket looking for funds to pay teachers, lecturers and so forth. We must work hard and play in the league of rich nations," Raila said.

The PM said the school heads are responsible for the standards of performance in the schools.

He noted that their influence and steady hand over teachers and pupils would usher in progress and ensure a bright future for the country. "It is you who allocate resources to areas that are critical to the performance of the school, monitor the implementation of the curriculum and measure the impact of the allocated resources," the PM said.

Raila urged the school heads to ensure quality education, embrace e-learning and child friendly schools.

He also supported establishment of centres of excellence in districts. Kepsha chairman Joseph Karuga and secretary general William Mukoya, welcomed the Government’s announcement, saying the scheme would clearly spell out their terms and conditions of service.

"Once we get into headship, we will be sure of what we are expected to do and on what terms.

"We will have an opportunity for career growth. With the scheme of service on the table, it is now possible to negotiate with Government for terms and condition of service for school heads," Karuga said, adding school heads manage institutions of different sizes, and the scheme would ensure they are recognised. In the conference resolution signed by Mr Mukoya, the school heads urged the Ministry of Education to implement their scheme of service to attract and retain competent school heads and teachers. "The capacity building courses in the ministry should be enhanced to improve curriculum delivery and implementation for quality education," he said. They also called for mainstreaming and integration of early childhood care and education in primary schools to create solid foundation for learners.

Majali described the announcement as good news for the teaching force and Knut, as it would end many years of a protracted battle for the terms and conditions of service for the school heads.

"The scheme of service for school heads is long over due. We presented a memorandum to the Ministry of Education asking for that scheme of service to be implemented and we are happy that the Government has now responded," Majali said.

Additional reporting by Samuel Otieno.