Today, KNUT officials held a media briefing where they urged their members to report back to school as soon as possible. Speaking at the meeting, KNUT Secretary General Wilson Sosion said that teachers have an unfathomable mandate to prepare their schools for learning.
Students are expected to report back to school from October 19, but before then, a lot needs to be done to make schools ready for learning.
Most schools have not been doing anything since shutdown in March, which means that there is a lot of work to be done in order to make the schools habitable. Moreover, schools are expected to comply with Covid-19 guidelines, including social distancing, sanitizing, and wearing masks.
To meet these standards, schools will require rearrangements in classes and dormitories. KNUT opines that teachers need to report back to school as soon as possible to prepare their school environments and implement the required Covid-19 guidelines before learners resume.
Wilson Sosion has said that teachers should welcome learners and provide psychosocial support to overcome the mental repercussions of the pandemic. In addition, the KNUT boss reiterated that schools should accommodate pregnant girls and offer them support to continue with education.
The number of teen pregnancies increased drastically since school closure in March. Many young girls are wondering whether their schools will accept them back, but they can find temporary relief in Sosion’s sentiments. Someone has to listen and understand them, right?
KNUT has also made its position on gender violence known. Sosion advised schools to establish Gender desks where issues of gender such as violence and early pregnancies can be addressed.
Teachers are the center of any such programme. They not only offer guiding and counselling services, but also monitor the progress of every individual in terms of gender concerns. Every teacher has the responsibility to seek information and understand the worries of each child. This will enable them provide the necessary support for effective learning and education.
Wilson Sosion also feels that children are safer at school than at home. “Children are safer at school than at home… that is what we have confirmed. Our parents skills in Kenya of raising children is very low,” The KNUT Secretary General said.
Whether you agree with Sosion or not, it is morally and professionally right for teachers to report back to school as soon as possible and offer psychosocial support to learners.
