County Education officials forced to buy desks or get fired, says CS Prof. George Magoha

 

Schools desks across Kenya. FILE

Education Ministry boss Prof. George Magoha force the Sub-County Directors of Education (SDEs) to procure desks and chairs to government-sponsored schools failure to which they will all be fired.


Education CS George Magoha and his Principal Secretary Belio Kipsang last week directed all County Directors of Education (CDEs) to ensure some 622,000 desks, lockers and chairs are made and delivered to schools by yesterday.


However,  numerous schools are yet to receive desks and chairs. CDEs and SCDEs were directed to ensure full delivery by close of yesterday.


Consequently, the CDEs communicated to all SCDEs endangering them with disciplinary action for those who would not have adhered to the deadline by last evening.


“By copy of this year, you are hereby reminded that disciplinary action would be taken against you individually for failure to adhere to the directive by the Cabinet Secretary for Education, " the letter stated.


"You are, therefore recalled that the deadline to ensure that all desks, chairs and lockers are ready and delivered to schools remains Sunday, January 10, 2020,” a letter from one of the CDEs to his SCDEs reads in part.



The SCDEs push blame to the government for having given low quotations for the desks and as such failed to attract many artisans.


According to CDEs and SCDEs, the government is paying Sh2,500 for each desk and Sh3,500 for a chair and locker, which are way below the market prices.


“Only a few artisans have volunteered to make the desks because of the low quotation. Most artisans have turned down the offer because it would be a loss to them, “one SCDE said.