Parents Refute KUPPET Idea of Hosting Grade 7 in Secondary School
Parents Refute KUPPET Idea of Hosting Grade 7 in Secondary School. Silas Obuhatsa, leader of the National Association of Parents, expressed concern over the financial impact of the Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) proposals on parents. KUPPET promotes the integration of Junior Secondary Schools (JSS) into existing full-time secondary schools with the aim of providing every Kenyan child with not only access to education, but also quality education.
Obuhatsa questions the feasibility of KUPPET’s ideas and highlights the potential financial burden on parents. He points to the need for new uniforms and draws attention to the increased burden on parents whose children would enter boarding schools under this proposal.
In contrast, Obuhatsa suggests that the government should prioritize the upgrading of primary school facilities in anticipation of the introduction of Grade 8. The debate revolves around the competing visions of KUPPET and the National Parents Association on how best to improve the education system in Kenya.
KUPPET claims that JSS housing in primary schools could threaten the quality of education for pioneering secondary school students. They argue that primary schools lack the capacity to provide education at the lower secondary level.
One of the key issues highlighted by teachers is the lack of resources for science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) subjects, as well as sports, arts and social studies. Inadequate infrastructure, including science laboratories and sports facilities, hinders the proper implementation of these educational programs in public primary schools across the country.
Teachers further express a lack of qualified educators in technical and artistic fields, leading to neglected areas such as visual/art, home science and pre-technical studies. The solution proposed by KUPPET includes accommodation of lower secondary schools within upper secondary schools, addressing resource shortages and ensuring appropriate teaching staff for different subjects.
In addition to resource issues, teachers also express concern about having to teach subjects for which they are not adequately trained. The problem of underfunding and overburdening is pervasive in lower secondary education and leads instructors to focus on subjects for which they may not be adequately equipped.
In addition, teachers say their perspectives are often overlooked, which they attribute to the inferiority complex syndrome endured by elementary school teachers and school principals. It argues that effective management and leadership of secondary school students, teachers and resources can only be achieved by integrating secondary schools into secondary schools or equivalent institutions. The ongoing debate highlights the need for a comprehensive and inclusive approach to addressing the challenges facing the Kenyan education system.
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