School heads’ annual meetings do not add any value, parents say

The chairman Kenya primary schools head teachers MrJoseph Karuga addresses journalists outside Sheikh-Zayed hall ahead of their annual conference that starts on August 3, 2015. Parents are opposed to the conference saying it adds no value to them and the students. PHOTO | LABAN WALLOGA | NATION MEDIA GROUP

What you need to know:

  • More than 8,000 primary headteachers are expected at Zayed Hall in Mombasa starting Monday.
  • Mr Mwasela expressed disappointment that education officials let the headteachers use millions of shillings without proper accounting of public funds under their watch.
  • Kilindini Knut executive secretary Dan Oloo said the meetings were important for discussing education matters.

Parents are up in arms against a four-day conference for more than 8,000 primary headteachers expected at Zayed Hall in Mombasa starting Monday.

On Sunday, Mombasa County Parents Association chairman Eliston Mwasela questioned why the heads had ‘abandoned’ their stations for the Kenya Primary Schools Heads Association’s annual conference during the crucial second term last week.

“Conferences in this country do not add any value to the parents or students who are the main stakeholders in the education sector.

“Of what benefit are these conferences to us?” he asked.

Saying parents were not in favour of the meetings, Mr Mwasela expressed disappointment that education officials let the headteachers use millions of shillings without proper accounting of public funds under their watch.

According to him the meetings should be ‘localised’ to save on transport, accommodation and subsistence allowances spent during such conferences.

But speaking on the sidelines at Zayed Hall, Kilindini Knut executive secretary Dan Oloo said the meetings were important for discussing education matters.