Echoes of War: Ogamba faces teachers backlash over playwright ban

Education Secretary Ogamba Migos Friday came face to face with the fury of teachers who told him to reconsider the government’s decision to ban schools from dramatising content by playwrights who are non-teachers.

Kenya National Union of Teachers(KNUT) National Treasurer Kennedy Nyamwanda and the Kisii Branch Chairman of Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) Chairman Joseph Abincha put Ogamba on the spot over the events that happened Thursday during the ongoing National Drama Festivals where Butere Girls actresses were barred from staging their play “Echoes of War”.

Nyamwanda termed the ban on the play as against the Competence Based curriculum (CBC), which the Government was still modeling.

“Banning a play being staged by talented kids is anti-CBC, and it is a negative step when we all want to promote talent. Why should the government ban expression of talent?” Nyamwanda asked.

Mr Abincha said the decision to ban plays authored by non-teachers was an effort in futility. He said the government was not keen on the trends in the expression of contemporary issues.

“We read and teach set books that have even stronger messages about contemporary evils. Are those authors teachers?” Abincha asked.

The officials were speaking at St Charles Lwanga Ichuni Girls High School, where Nyaribari Masaba MP Dr Daniel Manduku hosted hundreds of teachers from his constituency for an inaugural prize-giving ceremony.

Those in attendance included MPs Tom Odege(Nyatike), John Waluke(Sirisia), Alpha Miruka(Bomachoge Chache) and Japhet Nyakundi of Kitutu Chache North. The event was also graces by County Women MPs under the umbrella caucus of Kenya Woman Parliamentarians(Kewopa): Dorice Aburi(Kisii) Jerusha Momanyi(Nyamira), Ruth Odinga(Kisumu), Rene Mayaka(Nominated MP), Beatrice Adagala(Vihiha), Lilian Siai(Trans-Nzoia) and Fatuma Masito(Lamu).

Trans Nzoia Woman MP Ms Sioi found herself in a collision with the teacher after she supported the government ban on the Butere Girls play, which she said had strong political tones.

The teachers booed her down as she struggled to justify the government ban amid jeers.

She, however, went on to say that politicians should not be given space to use education to settle their duels.

“We should not allow politics in our schools. Let politicians have their platforms for politics and not use our kids and schools,” Sioi said.

Ogamba, while responding to the issues, said the government could not take it lightly that politicians would hijack educational fares to promote their political ego.

“We should separate politics from education, and we should offer solutions to our societal challenge instead of fueling and inciting violence and disharmony,” Ogamba said.

Nyatike MP Odege told Migos to steer reforms on the welfare of teachers, which he noted was wanting and needed urgent address.

Odege said the Government should not be projecting economic improvement when its servants were demoralised.