Tuesday, January 10, 2012

Calls for consultations over change in term dates




Written By:Judith Akolo,    Posted: Mon, Jan 09, 2012
The Association of Professional Teachers of Kenya – TAP says longer school terms could compromise discipline in schools
Educationists are calling for consultations over the change in term dates.
The Association of Professional Teachers of Kenya - TAP says the proposal to have a long first and second term could compromise discipline in schools. However, Education PS Prof James Ole Kiyiapi is questioning why teachers are rejecting what they have been engaged in all along.
The Education PS is taking issue with teachers who have been on the forefront in rejecting the government proposal to increase the number of weeks that children will spend in school during the first and second terms.
The PS argues that teachers have all along been keeping students in school over the school holidays providing extra tuition at a cost. "Teachers have been informally providing extra tuition to children on holiday at a cost, what is wrong in making this formal, so that all children benefit," he said.
The Association of Professional Teachers of Kenya - TAP says the increase in the number of weeks could undermine discipline and encourage strikes in schools. "It is a fact that second term has always witnessed unrest in schools, the main blame has been the long duration that children have to take in school in second term, are we not worsening things?" posed, Nixon Mugendi a member of the Teachers Association.
They say the delay in releasing the new term dates is delaying teachers from developing their schemes of work as they await the final decision by the ministry of education.
And Provincial Directors of Education - PDEs are asking parents to take up their roles in the guidance and up-bringing of their children. The Provincial Directors of Education interviewed by Channel One are blaming parents for abdicating their responsibility a matter they argue is undermining the wholesome development of children.
Alex Tom Majani the PDE in charge of Coast Province says the male parents are the main culprits as they do not attend parents' meetings leaving it to mothers.
 "At the introduction of the free primary education in 2003 we have noticed that many parents are no longer following up on the progress of their children in schools," says Majani.
 The Nyanza PDE Geoffrey Cherongis says it is crucial that parents begin guiding their children well if society has to maintain its stature. The PDE Rift Valley Beatrice Adu at the same time urged parents and society to stop placing too much pressure on children to perform well in examinations since exams are not an end in themselves."Pupils should be left to be children, this pressure being exerted on them is breaking the young minds," says Adu.
 She at the same time refuted reports that a teacher in Kericho took his life over poor results. The PDE says the teacher left a suicide note indicating he had debts and directed the family on where to bury him.
Reports had indicated that the teacher committed suicide after results of several candidates in his school were cancelled by the Kenya National Examination Council - KNEC over alleged cheating.

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