Teachers in Nandi County have raised concerns over their exclusion from this year’s World Teachers’ Day awards, questioning the criteria used to identify and recognise outstanding educators.
The teachers, under the Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET), say no educator from Nandi was selected for the awards despite what they describe as strong performances in academics, sports and other co-curricular activities.
Nandi KUPPET Branch Secretary Paul Rotich said the omission was disappointing, noting that teachers in the county have continued to deliver good academic results while supporting learners to develop their talents beyond the classroom.
Rotich called on the committee responsible for the awards to reconsider its selection process and make it more inclusive to ensure educators from across the country have an opportunity to be recognised.
He argued that geographical location should not determine whether a teacher’s contribution to education is acknowledged.
According to Rotich, recognising teachers for outstanding performance plays an important role in motivating educators to improve learning outcomes and nurture the talents of their learners.
The KUPPET official urged the organisers to adopt a selection process that gives equal consideration to achievements from all counties in future editions of the awards.
The concerns were raised as teachers across Kenya joined educators worldwide in marking World Teachers’ Day, an annual occasion dedicated to recognising the contribution of teachers to education and society.
The Nandi teachers said they hope future celebrations will provide broader recognition of educators whose work continues to influence learners both academically and through co-curricular activities.
