The Cabinet Secretary for Education, Mr. Ezekiel Machogu has asked headteachers of primary and secondary schools to ensure teaching starts at 8.00am and ends at 3.45pm on weekdays.
Mr. Machogu said the Ministry provides for a maximum of 6 teaching hours, noting that education of learners should be natural and not forced.
He said Finland has a 3 hour teaching regime yet it is reputed to have a world-class system of education. He stressed the need for schools to adhere to the school hours which allows learners to manage their own learning and engage in Physical education activities.
The Cabinet Secretary said this when the officials of the Kenya Secondary School Heads Association (KESSHA) led by its Chairman, Mr. Indimuli Kahi paid a courtesy call on him at his Jogoo House Office.
Present during the occasion was the Principal Secretary for the State Department of Basic Education, Dr. Belio Kipsang.
Mr. Machogu, however, thanked KESSHA for the support it was giving the government in the management of education and in particular, the education reform the government is undertaking.
Dr. Kipsang challenged the leadership of KESSHA to regulate the costing of school uniforms among its members.
Mr. Indimuli called on the ministry to address issues relating to 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.
The Cabinet Secretary said the Ministry will set up a team to study the issues and provide possible solutions. He, however, asked the association to submit proposals on possible ways of addressing the issues.
Present during the meeting also were senior officials in the Ministry and the executive officials of KESSHA.
By Hamdi Mohamud
