The Knut West Pokot branch has castigated the suggestion of Attorney General Kihara Kariuki to dismiss the Education CS Amina Mohamed’s
proposal to lower entry grades for teacher training colleges.
Union
officials led by West Pokot branch secretary Martin Sembelo defended Amina’s directive,
arguing
the new framework would boost the number of teachers in marginalised regions.
They
also slammed the Teachers Service Commission and Kenya Union of Post Primary Teachers for opposing the proposal by the ministry, saying those who are against
the proposal are misleading Kenyans.
Sembelo said marginalised counties have been facing teacher shortages for a very long time since tutors from other regions are unwilling to teach there.
“Most teachers have lower grades
like D-plus but are doing well. The
proposal is anchored
in the Constitution of 2010. Even professors started with lower grades before they were elevated . They should grant us the opportunity and we shall be
in tandem with other communities,” he said.
Sombelo
said the assumption that a D-plus is not fit for the system
is wrong and what CS Amina said offers the right direction.
He said Amina’s decision to lower the grades from C to D-plus was constitutional. “We were
perturbed and surprised by the AG and TSC. The grade is still viable for marginalised nomadic communities,” he said.
Many children are unable to further their education due to lack of teachers, he added.