The government has been urged to expeditiously investigate the use of pupils by teachers in Gesima zone institutions to perform tasks which are contrary to the laws on education.
Speaking on Tuesday at Nyamotenenio primary school during parents and teachers meetings, speaker after speaker accused the school administration of using children wrongly by assigning them personal duties which had nothing to do with the children’s education.
They said most children had been spotted being sent by teachers to perform certain functions for teachers among them fetching water and carrying farm products to and fro the teacher’s homes.
“This is a habit that is cropping up in this zone. Our children have been turned into slaves and they are no longer getting time to study. I can testify that most times they are found serving teachers or executing duties for teachers which are not educational,” said Mr James Nyakundi.
They urged the Ministry of Education to expeditiously investigate the issue besides threatening to present a petition against certain school heads that are said to be tolerating the habit.
“The core reason why we take our children to school is to acquire education. Those who think can use children for other reasons are mistaken. We call upon the ministry to take an action against teachers who may be involved in the crime,” added Mrs Priscah Okioma.
The call was supported by a section of retired teachers led by Isaac Monari who termed the actions ‘illegal and unconstitutional’ and urged the government to arrest school heads who were involved in permitting the crime.