THE Kenya Private Schools Association yesterday demanded 60 per cent of form one slots during the national secondary schools selection. Secretary Harriet Mbutura said they are rightful players in the education sector according to Sessional Paper Number 1 of 2005 which allowed them to partner with the government at the start of Free Primary Education in 2003.
Private schools have since assisted government in absorbing surging numbers of children seeking education, she said. “As private schools, we prefer that the selection of form ones to national schools be based on merit,” Mbutura said: Last year the Ministry of Education favoured children from public schools in the selection to the then 18 national schools. Now there are an additional 30 national schools. The selection system was based on equity according to Education minister Sam Ongeri.
Yesterday, representatives of private schools from the 47 counties complained that ongoing meetings by the Education ministry on the mode of form one selection have not consulted them. "Our fear is that we might be ambushed with a system that discriminates against private schools yet we performed well. In the unfortunate event that our pupils are discriminated (against) during the selection process, we shall mobilise all our members, pupils and well-wishers to demonstrate to Jogoo House,” Mbutura said. She said the demonstrations will demand resignation of the minister and the PS.
The association threatened that the demonstrations will go on for as long as it takes to get the officials out. Unlike last year where the association went to court, this time it is asking pupils who may be affected in the event of discrimination to move to court and demand their constitutional rights. Last year’s KCPE had 130,000 private schools candidates sitting for the exams out of 700,000.
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