The government has expressed concern about the incidents of school invasions following claims of poor results in national examinations, leading to harassment and assaults on some teachers. Education Cabinet Secretary, Dr. Ezekiel Machogu, acknowledged that a few cases of teacher harassment have been reported in certain schools since the release of the 2023 Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) Examination results on January 8, 2024.
In a statement, Machogu emphasized the Ministry’s unease regarding this concerning trend, which seemingly places the responsibility for poor exam performance solely on teachers, particularly school heads. He reminded communities involved in these regrettable attacks that exam success is a reflection of the collective efforts of all stakeholders, including parents, teachers, and candidates.
The CS highlighted that the Ministry of Education and the Teachers’ Service Commission (TSC) have established a robust mechanism for evaluating the performance of teachers and field officers. This system ensures that underperforming staff members are addressed in accordance with existing laws and policies.
Looking ahead, Machogu asserted that any acts of invading schools to force teachers out of their workstations will be treated as a crime by the Ministry of Education. Such actions will prompt decisive measures from law enforcement agencies. He urged any stakeholders aggrieved by perceived poor exam results to utilize legal channels to report their concerns to relevant authorities for appropriate action.
