Education Laws on Teaching Hours: Examining CS Machogu’s Directive
The CS’s directive mandates that teaching should be limited to six hours, specifically between 8am and 3.45pm, to allow students to engage in co-curricular sporting activities.
The essence of the directive emphasizes natural and unhurried education.
While some viewed this as a new directive that could potentially lead to an increase in private tuition (previously banned by the government due to exploitation concerns), it is crucial to understand that schools are legally required to adhere to a six-hour learning cycle within a 24-hour period.
Section 84 of the Basic Education Regulations of 2015 clearly stipulates that both public and private institutions must conduct lessons from 8am to 3.30pm, Monday to Friday.
This directive, applicable to boarding schools as well, excludes breaks and lunchtime, resulting in a six-hour learning window.
“No day institution of basic education and training shall require learners to report earlier than 7.15am,” the regulations state.
Moreover, co-curricular activities such as soccer, theatre, dance, and swimming should take place between 3.30pm and 4.45pm, excluding weekends.
From 5pm to 7.30pm, students are encouraged to engage in self-directed activities.
In terms of boarding schools, supervised routine activities are scheduled from 6am to 8am, while the latest reporting time for learners is set at 5pm.
However, no boarding institution should send away an unaccompanied learner after 9am.
Response and Analysis:
The National Parents Association (NPA) is yet to provide an official comment on the matter, indicating the need for thorough consultation with relevant stakeholders.
The NPA aims to gather comprehensive information from the Ministry of Education, the Teachers Service Commission (TSC), Kenya Secondary School Heads Association (KESSHA), Kenya Primary School Heads Association (KEPSHA), Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT), and Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) before issuing a statement.
While teachers appreciate CS Machogu’s directive regarding the reduction of class hours, concerns have been raised about the workload.
Teachers argue that six hours might not be sufficient to cover the entire syllabus, potentially impacting the quality of education.
Therefore, there is a call for the government to consider reducing the workload to enable teachers to effectively complete the syllabus within the designated teaching hours.
Conclusion:
CS Machogu’s directive on teaching hours has sparked a lively debate within the realm of law and education.
While it aims to strike a balance between academic and extracurricular activities, there are concerns regarding the practicality of completing the syllabus within the limited timeframe.
It remains to be seen how the directive will be implemented and whether adjustments will be made to address the workload concerns raised by educators.
Education Laws on Teaching Hours: Examining CS Machogu’s Directive
