The government yesterday maintained the ban on holiday tuition in schools will not be lifted even as it revealed it is open for talks to allow Teachers Service Commission (TSC) to start paying nursery school teachers’ salaries.
Education Principal Secretary Belio Kipsang yesterday told MPs children should be allowed to enjoy their holidays at home.
Reacting to a proposal by Murang’a Woman Representative Sabina Chege, Kipsang said holiday tuition has been abused before and re-introducing it would create room for the trend to continue.
Support slow learners
“Rather than having tuition in our schools let us allow our children to be children and let’s create mechanisms through which we can support those who may be slow in learning,” said, Kipsang, who was companied by other officials from the ministry.
Chege seeks to amend the Basic Education Act, which governs operations in primary and secondary schools, to allow tuition in schools.
The proposal says tuition will only be intended to help children with learning difficulties by providing extra coaching to enable them to catch up with other learners.
Motivate teachers
The Basic Education Act 2013 outlaws holiday tuition of any kind and stipulates that a person who goes against the law risks a fine not exceeding Sh100,000 or imprisonment for a period not exceeding one year or both.
On the employment of Early Childhood Development Education (ECDE) teachers, the PS said the ministry was ready to engage senators and governors to find the way forward.
He said the ministry appreciated the fact that a well prepared pupil would be able to perform well once they progress with their education.
Chege had proposed that TSC be empowered to employ nursery school teachers. The MPs reiterated the need to ensure ECDE teachers are well taken care of.
Education Committee chair and Tinderet MP Julias Melly said there was need for senators and governors to be engaged on the matter.
Kabondo Kasipul MP Eve Obara said there was need for teachers to be properly remunerated to motivate them to perform even better.
