Hostile Reception: Principals Blocked from Entering Their Schools
Several head teachers and principals in parts of Nyanza are facing rejection and protests from some parents and boards of their new institutions, leading to tensions and uncertainty.
In Homa Bay, Migori, and Kisii, at least 10 schools have become battlefields since the reopening of schools in January, with parents blocking transferred principals from assuming their new roles.
The rejection of the new school heads has led to concerns from various stakeholders. Some of the affected teachers are uncertain whether they will be allowed to report to their new schools, with some of them even considering reversing their transfer.
Meanwhile, some parents have held demonstrations demanding the transfer of the principal in some schools.
The situation has been attributed to inaction by Ministry of Education officials at the grassroots level, who allegedly ignore the grievances of parents against school heads.
When parents report issues such as poor academic performance in schools, but the ministry does not act on their complaints, it creates disillusionment among them, leading them to feel abandoned by the government.
The rejection of new school heads has also affected schools in Migori, where board members, parents, and community members rejected a new principal and urged the TSC to confirm the deputy principal.
The good performance of the school under the deputy principal’s leadership had won the local community’s admiration, leading to the withdrawal of students from neighboring schools.
The rejection of transferred principals and head teachers has forced authorities in Kisii to intervene and warn parents against frequent protests targeting new school leaders.
Kisii County Commissioner Tom Anjera has raised concerns about the increasing cases of school leaders being blocked from taking over their roles and warned against invading learning institutions, closing gates, and locking out school leadership over poor performance.
The rejection of transferred school leaders is a worrying trend that affects the stability of the schools and the education system. It is essential for all stakeholders to engage in dialogue and find a solution to the issue to ensure that the education of the affected children is not disrupted.
The Ministry of Education needs to act on the grievances of parents and ensure that the transfer of school leaders is transparent and fair.
Hostile Reception: Principals Blocked from Entering Their Schools
