Action sought over teacher attacks

• Unions push for arrest of parents unleashing violence on school heads for poor performance

A headteacher’s association and a teachers’ union are pushing for the arrest of parents who are attacking teachers over poor performance in the Standard Eight examinations.

Kenya Secondary Schools Heads Association Coast chairman Enos Mwaruka said headteachers are an insecure lot because of the violence that has been unleashed on their colleagues over poor results.

“We are insecure because parents are venting their frustrations on us over poor performance with the belief that we are the ones to blame,” said Mr Miruka.

Protecting headteachers

Speaking to the Nation over the phone, Mr Mwaruka said what worsened the situation was lack of protection for the school heads.

“Who is protecting headteachers when they are seen as frustrating the parents’ dreams of seeing their children succeed in education?” he questioned.

“When a patient dies at the hospital, is the doctor blamed for the death?” he further questioned.

He said if a school head is responsible for the failure of candidates, investigations should be carried out to establish the matter, adding that all stakeholders are to blame.

“Employers, the provincial director of education and other stakeholders should guard the headteacher,” said Mr Mwaruka.

“The impression that the headteacher holds the key to success is wrong. Good grades are a result of efforts that have been put by all stakeholders in education,” he said.

He demanded stern action against those responsible for the attacks, adding that affected teachers should be compensated.

At the same time, the Kenya National Union of Teachers (Knut) Mombasa branch boss, Mr Juma Ahaya, said teaching staff are a worried lot because of fear of being the next victims.

“We are worried because we don’t know what will happen when next year’s results are released,” he said.

“What the parents did is wrong and the ministry should take stern measures to stop them from blaming and attacking teachers,” said Mr Ahaya.

Coast provincial director of education Tom Majani said roughing up teachers over poor results is unacceptable.

“Attacking teachers is barbaric. A mature parent is one who follows the progress of a child in school and reports to the necessary authority whenever there is a problem,” said Mr Majani.

Elsewhere, Busia Knut executive secretary Mark Oseno said that it had become impossible for teachers to work for fear of attacks.

“Good results in national examinations come as a result of involvement of all stakeholders and teachers should not be the ones to be blamed for poor results,” said Mr Oseno.