A heated moment broke out at State House when KUPPET Secretary General Akello Misori faced strong opposition from teachers during a meeting with President William Ruto.
The event brought together more than 10,000 teachers. It was meant to showcase the government’s progress in education reforms. However, the atmosphere shifted when Misori raised concerns about the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC).
Misori’s Controversial Remarks
When invited to speak, Misori called for a review of the placement of Junior Secondary Schools (JSS) in primary institutions.
“As much as we have more affordability in our schools, something that has been ignored and must be interrogated further is the domiciling of our Junior Secondary Schools in Primary Schools,” he said.
The statement sparked instant backlash. Teachers waved their hands in objection. Some even demanded that Misori leave the stage. Despite his efforts to continue, the heckling grew louder, forcing him to cut his speech short.
Intervention by PS Julius Bitok
Basic Education Principal Secretary Julius Bitok quickly stepped in to calm the crowd.
“Order! His Excellency has heard you! Let us be quiet, we need order. The president has already heard you,” Bitok urged.
The standoff lasted about five minutes before calm was restored and Misori was handed back the microphone.
Ruto’s Pledge to Teachers
President Ruto used the meeting to reaffirm his commitment to education reforms. He highlighted that his administration had hired over 76,000 teachers and built 23,000 classrooms.
He also pointed to the establishment of the Open University of Kenya and the introduction of a student-centred higher education funding model. This, he said, would boost access to learning while supporting universities and TVETs.
Divisions Over CBC
The heckling highlighted divisions within the teaching community over CBC and the future of JSS. While some support keeping JSS in primary schools, others want the system moved to senior secondary institutions.
