The Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) Trans Nzoia Branch has linked the recent wave of student unrest reported in different parts of the country to what it describes as declining parental responsibility and weakened family discipline structures.
The branch Executive Secretary, George Wanjala, said the education system is increasingly being forced to take on behavioural correction roles that traditionally belong to families, warning that schools alone cannot effectively instil discipline without strong parental support.
According to Wanjala, the erosion of parental involvement has contributed significantly to the rising cases of indiscipline and unrest in schools.
“Students are now issuing unrealistic demands and showing a decline in discipline,” Wanjala said.
He further noted that teachers are often unfairly blamed for behavioural challenges that originate outside the classroom environment, stressing that their core mandate remains academic instruction.
Wanjala explained that in earlier years, learners demonstrated higher levels of discipline because parents played a more active role in guiding, monitoring, and correcting their children’s behaviour at home. This, he said, helped reinforce values that extended into school life.
He emphasized that while schools play a role in shaping behaviour, their influence is limited without reinforcement from the home environment.
“Teachers are often unfairly blamed for behavioural challenges that originate outside the classroom,” he said, adding that the burden placed on educators is increasing as family structures weaken.
Wanjala stressed that instilling discipline in learners is a shared responsibility that must involve parents, guardians, schools, and government institutions working together.
He called for renewed collaboration to address rising cases of student unrest and to restore discipline across learning institutions.
He further noted that parents and guardians hold the primary responsibility of laying a strong moral and behavioural foundation for children, while teachers should focus on academic development within the education system.
Education stakeholders across the country have in recent weeks expressed concern over sporadic incidents of student strikes and unrest in schools. The developments have sparked renewed national debate on parenting standards, discipline, and the increasing pressures facing the education sector.
