The Cabinet Secretary for Education, Fred Matiang’i, has asked heads of basic education institutions to create a more caring environment for learners, aside from educating them.
Dr Matiang’i said schools had the duty to create a learning environment that took care of young people in ways that made them confident, happy and ready to confront the challenges of nation building.
“Children are not just there to acquire education, but must be happy while getting that education,” the CS noted.
He made the remarks during The Kenya Education Management Institute (KEMI) 2nd Graduation Ceremony at the Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani on Wednesday.
He was flanked by the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Education, Daniel Karaba, and the Chief Executive Officer of KEMI, Wanjiku Kariuki.
Matiang’i expressed the need to track the impact of the training school heads were receiving on management, saying the greatest challenge facing education is that of managing resources and educational management in general.
He said apart from managing teaching and learning, school leaders must also pay attention on how they handle children under their professional care.
Acknowledging that society made increasing demand for access, equity and quality education, Matiang’i said that education managers should go an extra mile in making a positive difference in the lives of our children.
“It is expected that each one of us remains vigilant towards ensuring that bad practices such as examination cheating, arson, radicalization, alcohol and drug abuses,” Matiang’i said noting that they should be eliminated as they seriously threatened the quality standards of our education.
Dr Wanjiku said that the course the institution mounted enabled school managers to improve their knowledge and skills that was necessary to provide access to quality education in the institutions they managed.
Senator Karaba challenged the teachers to equip themselves with digital skills so they could teach the learners better.
He said what was now needed were digital teachers for digital students.
In attendance included the Director General, Leah Rotich, and the Director for Education Standards and Quality Assurance, Pius Mutisya.
Some 9,639 teachers were awarded diploma in Management