Observe teaching hours, CS Machogu tells teachers

Education Cabinet Secretary Ezekiel Machogu has ordered head teachers of both primary and secondary schools to ensure they operate within stipulated official hours.

Machogu gave the official hours within which teaching should go on as from 8.00am to 3.45pm on weekdays.

He said the Ministry provides for a maximum of 6 hours teaching, noting that education of learners should be natural and not forced. He stressed the need for schools to adhere to the school hours which allows learners to manage their own learning as well as engage in physical education activities.

He cited Finland which said has a 3-hour teaching regime yet it is reputed to have a world-class system of education.

The Cabinet Secretary was addressing officials of the Kenya Secondary School Heads Association (KESSHA) led by their chairman Indimuli Kahi when they paid him a courtesy call at his Jogoo House office. Principal Secretary for the State Department of Basic Education Dr Belio Kipsang was also present.

The CS used the occasion to thank KESSHA for the support it was giving the government in the management of education and in particular, the education reform the government is undertaking.

On his part, PS Kipsang challenged the leadership of KESSHA to regulate the costing of school uniforms among its members.

Indimuli raised various issues he wants addressed by the Ministry to make it easier for principals to manage secondary schools. The chairperson identified capitation funds for free day secondary education programme, school uniform, disbursement of curriculum materials, management of co-curricular activities and auditing of school finances as some of the issues the association wants the ministry to address.

In response, the CS said the Ministry will set up a team to interrogate the issues and provide solutions to them. He however, asked the association to submit proposals on possible ways of addressing the issues.

Present during the meeting were senior officials in the Ministry and the executive officials of KESSHA.