A one day workshop of Education Stakekolders at Farmview Hotel in Busia town on Thursday co-sponsored by the County Government of Busia in collaboration with the National Government drew a roadmap aimed at bringing education standards back on its feet both ECDE, primary, tertiary and secondary levels.
Busia Governor H.E Dr Paul Otuoma who opened and closed the workshop said the poverty revelling the county was artificial noting that his administration had made deliberate efforts to address the anomaly, thus their concerted efforts to invite top scholars to brainstorm on available remedies to make Busia County reinstate its academic giant feat.
Among those who gave their views on what ails education sector in the county included, Busia Deputy Governor, H.E Arthur Odera, Kapsabet Boys Chief Principal, Kipchumba Maiyo, Kiminini Girls Chief Principal, Violata Lukarito, Dr Robert Wafula from Kibabii University, incoming Busia Education chairman, Professor Okumu Bigambo, Prof Stephen Odebero, Busia Senator Okiya Omtatah, Budalang’i MP Raphael Wanjala and Busia Deputy County Commissioner, Kipchumba Rutto.
Others were County Director TSC, Charles Nyauma, Director Education, James Kalio, Education Secretary Catholic Diocese of Bungoma, Fr. Faustin Wesonga, Busia Assembly Education Committee chairperson, Eunice Wandera, Busia Kephsha chairman, George Odhiambo, Kessha chairman, Nixon Boyi, Knut Busia Executive Secretary, Mulamba, Teso Knut Execitive Secretary, Ekasiba, representative Special schools, Florence Wanjala, National organising secretary Parents Association, Gabriel Obuya, Busia Kuppet Executive Secretary, Moffats Okisai and opinion leader, Priscilla Were.
In a joint communique signed by Dr Otuoma County Commissioner and read by the Governor, the education stakeholders in the county committed themselves to embrace the solutions preferred in the forum.
The stakeholders agreed to start countrywide discussions on educaton quality and standards, and devolve the forums to sub counties and ward levels.
It was resolved that all leaders work together to ensure coordination and complementing of efforts to effect improvement in the education sector in the border county.
They agreed to form a team of experts and key stakeholders to convert the output of stakeholders from day-to-day into action plan; and that the conversation about education quality and standards is carried on convened by the County Government in consultation with the National Government is solved by them.
The forum agreed to work togetheri to attract their best sons and daughters to play a role in schools for example members of school boards. That school managers adopt best practices in managing schools and that they will at all levels reward, recognize and encourage good performance.
That leaders will work together to bridge the gap between teachers establishment and the actual numbers and that they will create an atmosphere of regular interaction and talking to each other in open, honest way without blame or hostility. They also agreed to address on issues guided by clear objectives, goals devoid of empty rhetoric and hostility.
The Governor later launched the Ksh127.1 million education bursary program to benefit students from Busia county who are pursuing education in various learning institutions.
Maiyo said to achieve success a school needs to set targets, sensitize the community, use alumni to give back to their schools like infrastructure development, good working ethics, strong program for school and centre tailored, mentorship programs and to check on drugs abuse among students.
He said other measures to improve education standards include benchmarking with best schools, being role model, training and capacity building for teachers and counselling, empowerment, teamwork/time management, staffing, involvement of stakeholders and sound leadership.
Ms Lukorito said for a school to excel it should have God-fearing students, motivation of students and teachers, all teachers have lunch at school, rewards to teachers and students from parents on best perforamance, take best KCSE performers on a trip, regular testing of learners at all levels, culture of reading at home to achieve quality grades and need for students to adopt the slogan ” Campo lazima”.
Kuppet Executive Secretary, Moffats Okisai said despite the dwindling education standards in the county, he praised Butula Boys for recording an impressive mean score of 9.294 in 2022 KCSE to emerge among top 50 schools in the country.
