Interior Security Principal Secretary Raymond Omollo met with officials from the Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT), which has 21 branches in the Nyanza region, on Sunday, March 16.
Drawing representatives from all the branches, the stakeholder meeting sought to build strategies for the education sector to grow in its collaboration with the government.
Emphasizing the importance of leadership roles beyond unions, PS Omollo noted the high chance of people in the room taking up public roles in the future as has been demonstrated time and time again.
"The leadership within this room is the foundation of tomorrow’s governance. From this team, we will see future members of Parliament, senators, governors, and other key decision-makers," the PS told the team.
"It is, therefore, our collective responsibility to engage meaningfully and advocate for policies that uplift both the education sector and national development."
In his address, Omollo acknowledged the staffing gaps that persist despite the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) hiring 76,000 teachers in just two years of the Kenya Kwanza administration.
Therefore, he expressed the government's commitment to filling the gaps and also providing more infrastructure for the rapidly growing student population, especially in urban areas like Nairobi.
He further commended the teachers for their dedication, which had ensured a seamless transition to the Competency-Based Curriculum, promising that the government would continue to support the transition.
On matters of stakeholder engagement, PS Omollo promised that the national government would keep prioritizing reforms in the education sector and thus these meetings were crucial to ensure that.
Furthermore, he encouraged the KNUT leadership to take advantage of government programs that promote capacity-building and community development.
Ultimately, The PS pledged to champion policies that enhance the teaching profession, while the KNUT leaders committed to collaborating with government agencies for the betterment of the sector.
Also present at the meeting were other political leaders from the region including; Gem Member of Parliament Elisha Odhiambo and North Kanyamkago Ward MCA George Omamba.
