Education CS Issues Stern Warning To Principals After Butere Girls’ Fiasco
Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba has advised school principals against violating Teachers Service Commission (TSC) standards by allowing non-teachers to coach kids.
The warning followed the Butere Girls High School scandal, in which the administration allegedly hired former United Democratic Alliance (UDA) Secretary General Cleophas Malala.
Malala is not a member of the teaching faculty and hence cannot guide the students on their drama piece.
Addressing the press on Friday morning, Ogamba warned that inviting non-teachers to coach children in co-curricular activities like drama violates the TSC Act of 2018.
According to the Act, all administrators shall not include people who are not registered as teachers, including teachers whose names have been withdrawn from the teacher register, into school programs.
Government dismisses claims it stopped Butere girls from performing “Echoes of War.”
— tv47ke (@Tv47Newske) April 10, 2025
CS Ogamba Migos said Butere students stopped presenting on their own volition.
The play, Echoes of War had been banned following its alleged ‘political controversy’.#TV47DailyReport #GreenFix… pic.twitter.com/XhGqDZ18Lj
Ogamba also asked instructors to follow the TSC Code of Conduct and Ethics 2015.
The Act promotes teacher professionalism and child protection, particularly during extracurricular activities such as theatrical festivals.
“The Ministry wishes to inform principals who invite non-teachers to their schools to train learners in co-curricular activities that they are in contravention of the TSC regulations as well as the rules and regulations for the Kenya National Drama and Film Festival,” Ogamba said.
“The Ministry of Education is fully committed to promoting talents among our learners through all forms of co-curricular activities available in our school system,” he added.
“However, school principals are advised to stick to the rules and regulations governing the co-curricular activities.”
During the press conference, the education minister slammed the Butere Girls High School administration for allegedly allowing Malala to direct the play “Echoes of War”.
The CS said that the school principal violated TSC regulations.
Education CS Migos Ogamba explains the Butere Girls School saga at the Kenya National Drama Festival in Nakuru pic.twitter.com/Z9mzMdkXuJ
— The Standard Digital (@StandardKenya) April 10, 2025
According to him, the government would not allow individuals to rally schoolchildren against authority.
He also stated how Malala allegedly changed the Echoes of War while it was at the regional level, including derogatory elements against the Kenya Schools and Colleges National Drama and Film Festival Rules and Regulations 2025.
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According to Ogamba, after the school administration realized that the screenplay had been considerably altered and could not be presented at the national level, they sought to have it removed from national performances.
As a result, the school advised the afflicted students to return home for the April breaks.
However, two courts, one in Kakamega and the other in Kisii ordered that the “Echoes of War” play be performed at the national level.
He stated that political wars must only be fought by politicians outside of learning environments.
Education CS Issues Stern Warning To Principals After Butere Girls’ Fiasco
