Teachers have backed the decision by the Ministry of Education to abolish boarding primary schools.
The directive that learners from Grade 1 to 9 should be in day schools from next year was made on Tuesday by Basic Education Principal Secretary Belio Kipsang.
Kipsang made the announcement during the Kenya Primary Schools Head Association (Kepsha) annual conference in Mombasa.
Kenya National Union of Teachers Secretary-General Collins Oyuu has supported the move.
However,Oyuu is calling for cautious implementation of the directive.
According to Oyuu, says the process should be done in phases.
“The idea being propelled in the education sector is to make education affordable. Boarding schools are expensive ,” said Oyuu.
Also Read: PS Kipsang’ – Govt’ to Abolish Boarding Schools for Grades 1 to 9
KNUT wants the government to accommodate the existing schools so that there is no wastage of resources and parents are not affected.
The Kepsha national chairman Johnson Nzioka says it makes no sense to have a 10-year-old going to a boarding school?
“We need that bond established between the parent and child. ”
The Ministry of Education argues that since junior secondary schools will be domiciled in day primary schools, boarding schools will automatically be faced out.
Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers(KUPPET) chairperson Amboko Milemba has also supported the move.
Milemba says that abolishing boarding schools will shield parents from possible exploitation through exorbitant fee charges imposed by the schools.
