Religious leaders have been advised against interfering with the management of educational institutions, even though they either sponsor or own them.
Education Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang'i said the clergy should respect the mandate head teachers have been given by the Teachers Service Commission for public educational institutions or the Church which own private schools.
Dr Matiang’i made the remarks when he addressed the officials of Kenya Secondary School Heads Association (Kessha), Kisii Country, at Kisii High School on Wednesday.
He was flunked by the Director, Secondary and Tertiary Education, Robert Masese and the area Country Chairman Kessha, Jairus Ochoge.
The CS said interference with the management of schools by the church compromised the provision of quality education by the head teachers.
Dr Matiang’i, however, asked head teachers to provide to be available at all times in the school in order to provide the instructional leadership teachers and learners need for effective teaching and learning.
He said teacher absenteeism in public school was widespread, saying some teachers went to schools but never went to the classrooms where the actual teaching takes place.
“Absenteeism in school must lead to appropriate consequences,” Dr Matiang’i noted.
The CS also expressed concern that some school heads with political ambitions were spending time attending funerals campaigning to be Members of County Assemblies (MCAs), saying this was hurting learners.
He said those who want to join politics should quit allowing the government to fill the vacant positions to let children to get new teachers.
“We don’t have shortage teachers as we have a pool of qualified teachers who the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) can appoint to fill the positions they will leave,” he said.
He said their job is to educate and to give young people a chance to succeed in life.
He said it was not right for them to be away from school where they discharge their professional duties to the country.