Ibacho Mixed Secondary school principal Zablon Mogambi Oginda has called on the government and well-wishers to support the school materially in order to improve the school’s education standards.
Speaking on Friday during the school’s prize giving ceremony, principal Oginda said they are understaffed and have inadequate facilities that sabotage the progress of the school.
“We have few teachers compared to the rapid growing student population that has become a problem to the students’ academic endeavours. We have 17 Teachers Service Commission (TSC) teachers and 18 who are employed by the Board of Members (BOM). This number is low compared to the population of 850 students who have enrolled in the school. We ask the government to look into this issue," said the principal.
He added: "If will have enough teachers, dormitories and laboratories, I assure you that we will post wonderful results in the school.”
Principal Oginda also requested well-wishers and the government to support them build a modern administration block to enable them have more offices for the expanding school.
However, the principal hailed Kisii County government and other education stakeholders for their financial, material and moral support that has seen the school post impressive performance in subsequent years.
“We could not have achieved this performance were it not for the support of various partners. I appreciate the effective guidance we have always been accorded from the County Director of Education office. The political sector school managements accuse of interfering with the normal learning has been supportive both financially and morally," said principal Oginda.
He also hailed the Board of Management for positive focus on the school and parents for effective support to the school programs and projects.
The principal extended his gratitude to teachers and subordinate staff for sacrificing their personal programs to help students and ensuring activities run as scheduled.
Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) general secretary Kisii branch, Ben Nyaundi asked parents to invest in their children education to enable them get empowered professionally.
He said they will not relent but will instead ensure the demands of teachers are fulfilled. He warned TSC and Cabinet Secretary for Education Prof Jacob Kaimenyi against turning down the court ruling on payment of teacher’s dues.
His remarks were reiterated by Nyaribari Masaba politician Nichodemus Koroso, who asked the government to dialogue with education stakeholders to avert strikes which he said interfere with education in the country.