The society of Atheists in Kenya (AIK) has expressed their views concerning the directives made by education cabinet secretary Dr. Fred Matiang’i. The CS banned prayer days for candidates and banned visiting days in schools during the third term. According to Matiang’i, these could help in reducing exam cheating cases.
Following the ban, the AIK said in a press statement that the new rules should be taken positively.
"We welcome the directive by the education cabinet secretary Fred Matiang’I banning prayer days for candidates sitting national examinations from being held in the third term .this practice is outdated and out of tandem with global trends regarding public schooling systems," read the statement.
The society said it agrees with the CS that visiting and prayer day create avenues for examination cheating.
"We want to point out that the practice is unconstitutional, prayers should be banned in public schools in accordance with article 8 of the Kenyan constitution. Public schools which are funded by taxpayers’ money should not be the place of churches or mosques. They must not promote any particular religious faith. All public schools should focus on their core mandate, promoting learning and educating Kenyans. Prayers belong to churches and mosques," read the statement.