Drama teachers in the Western region, gathered for a workshop organized by the Regional Quality Assurance and Standard Office (QASO), have expressed their dissatisfaction with the event’s organization and accused the QASO Director, Teresa Songwa, of mistreatment. The workshop, held from January 19 to 21 at St. Mathias Secondary School in Busia town, brought together drama trainers and judges from the region.
Led by representatives from the Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET), including Okisai Moffats (Executive Secretary, KUPPET Busia) and Sabala Inyeni (Executive Secretary, KUPPET Vihiga), the teachers claimed that the workshop was poorly organized, with inadequate facilities and a lack of basic amenities.
The teachers raised concerns about the utilization of the money collected from participants, who paid Ksh2,500 each for the workshop. They alleged mistreatment, citing the absence of water and food during the three-day seminar. The leaders questioned why the Regional QASO failed to provide essential services despite the payment made by the teachers.
Sabala Inyeni threatened to involve the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) in investigating the management of co-curricular activity funds in the region if the issues were not addressed.
Okisai Moffats criticized the Regional QASO for the perceived mistreatment of teachers, highlighting that, in the past, similar workshops conducted at the Boarder Palace Hotel in Busia provided better services despite teachers paying the same amount. He called for an end to what he termed as “extortion” and demanded accountability from the Regional QASO.
When approached for comment, Teresa Songwa, the Regional QASO Director, declined to address the accusations and referred inquiries to the Basic Education Principal Secretary.
The teachers are demanding transparency in the utilization of funds and improved services for future workshops, threatening further action if their concerns are not addressed promptly.