Allocate more funds for TSC to achieve free secondary education, urges Sossion

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Kenya National Union of Teachers (Knut) Secretary General Wilson Sossion. PHOTO: COURTESY.

Mombasa, KENYA: The Kenya National Union of Teachers KNUT has said the only way free secondary education can be achieved in the country is if the Teachers Service Commission is allocated sufficient funds.

Addressing education stakeholders in Mombasa on Wednesday, KNUT Secretary General Wilson Sossion applauded the move though citing that there are dozens of stumbling blocks ahead.

“I urge the president to allocate more funds to the TSC in order for the free secondary education to be realized. I applaud the move though there are several huddles to jump, which include among others insufficient teachers and fewer learning resources.” Sossion said.

The KNUT boss said some of the school principals are operating schools that do not have a single trained teacher and noted that the move can only work out perfectly, if there are enough teachers and learning resources throughout the country.

Sossion added that the union not only supports free secondary, but quality secondary education that will be accessible to all Kenyans throughout the country and pointed out that it requires billions of shillings to be implemented come January next year.

He noted that it sounds ironical for the government to pay school fees amounting to billions of shillings, while it has failed to pay for the capitation fee of Kenyan students  which is as little as sh. 12,000.

“The union not only supports free secondary but education of good quality throughout the country. Some of the secondary school heads are working in schools that do not have even a single trained teacher.” The KNUT boss said.

He observed that most of the national schools in Kenya hire several engaged PI teachers and therefore disputed President Uhuru’s speech of hiring teachers for TSC saying those teachers do not actually exist.

As part of his campaign trail, President Uhuru Kenyatta pledged to implement free secondary education once voted in for a second five year term after the August polls.

Opposition coalition Principal Raila Odinga has also promised to offer free secondary education throughout the country after the general elections scheduled for August.

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