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Closing Schools Is Not the Solution
- Details
- Published on Monday, 23 July 2007 00:01
The Catholic church - the schools' sponsor - ordered the five not to open for the new term which began last week, accusing the headteachers of mismanagement and demanding their immediate transfer.
Even after the Education Minister ordered the schools re-opened and warned the Catholic Diocese of Kisii against causing confusion in the management of schools, the church defied the decree.
Whether or not the headteachers in question are guilty is not the issue here. The point is whether anyone has the right to close down a public school when the security of the children or the teachers is not at risk.
Headteachers are constantly accused of all manner of crimes but rarely is learning paralysed because of such allegations. Ordinarily, investigations are carried out by the relevant authorities. More often than not, the culprits are punished or transferred to different stations.
Granted, the sponsors have a critical role to play in the management of schools. Indeed, a number of churches started formal and informal schools and other institutions in the 19th century with the aim of providing instruction with moral and spiritual values in tandem with their teachings as well as ensuring that the children received education.
The key aim, however, was to provide the church with an opportunity to evangelise through the institution. After independence, the government took over the running of the schools and the church was given the role of sponsor - which meant that the churches' opinions on the management of the schools would be respected.
Through the years, however, a rift has grown between some churches and the Teachers Service Commission. The disagreements always have to do with who should head which school.
The Education Act is clear that the TSC should consult a sponsor before appointing a headteacher to the school. In the case of the five schools, there is clearly lack of consultation between the church and the TSC.
Whether or not the headteachers are guilty, closing the schools is not the solution. The government has the sole responsibility of overseeing the running of public institutions and the least the church should do is to register their disaffection with whatever aspect of the school to the government.
The government should then investigate the claims and act. That is as simple as it should be.
