Cases of assault on Kenyan teachers have lately been on the rise. The question many people are asking is this: Who is to be blamed? Is it the Government, the students or the Parents?
Just recently, a teacher in Nakuru West was allegedly attacked to death by two students for confiscating their mobile phone.
The teacher was supervising evening studies and was attacked as he walked to his house.
It will also be remembered that in 2018, six teachers from Chalbi Boys High School in North-Horr were injured after they were attacked by students for being ‘outsiders’.
It is such horrific cases that have now compelled KNUT to push the government to implement the UN Enforcement Act to curb the assault of teachers.
Knut secretary general Wilson Sossion on Friday decried the rising cases of assault of teachers.
“The act will ensure that children, teachers and workers are safe in such an environment,” Said Sossion.
The declaration describes the immediate and long-term consequences of attacks on education and military use of schools and universities for students, teachers, and communities living in situations of armed conflict.
It contrasts this with the positive and protective role that education can play during armed conflict.
It highlights the importance of key mechanisms, instruments, and initiatives that contribute to protecting education from attack, in particular, relevant Security Council resolutions and the UN Monitoring and Reporting Mechanism on grave violations against children.
“There is a culture of violence against teachers in Kenya which needs to be dealt with. Lack of proper ways of punishing students in school after the government abolished corporal punishment is also to blame,” Sossion said.
What more mechanisms should the Government come up with to promote cohesion between Students and Teachers?