The Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) in Trans Nzoia has attributed rising student unrest in schools to declining parental responsibility, strong societal influence, and changing student behavior, which are straining school discipline systems.
KUPPET Trans Nzoia Executive Secretary Dan Kutai said that student behavior is largely influenced by what learners observe at home and in society, warning that negative conduct among adults is increasingly being reflected in schools.
“The values and behaviors we demonstrate are passed from one generation to another. These children imitate what they see from us,” Kutai said during a media interview at the union offices in Kitale.
Kutai added that learners are influenced beyond the classroom, noting that conflicts and misconduct among adults contribute significantly to indiscipline in schools.
“If we as adults engage in conflicts in front of children, they will copy those negative behaviors. Eventually, this can even lead to serious misconduct such as planning school unrest,” he said.
He defended teachers against blame for rising indiscipline, stating that educators are fulfilling their professional duties and should not be solely held responsible for behavioral challenges among learners.
Kutai called for a coordinated approach involving parents, teachers, and society to restore discipline in schools.
KUPPET Trans Nzoia Chairman Weyama Paul also expressed concern over coordinated student actions in some schools, warning that emerging informal student networks may be fueling unrest.
He noted a growing trend where students collectively decide to boycott classes or leave school over similar grievances.
“We cannot have a situation where students collectively decide to go home on a particular day for similar reasons,” Weyama said.
He cited cases involving uniform and grooming-related demands, including requests for permission for girls to wear trousers, braid hair, and keep long nails, saying such issues are increasingly being organized among learners.
Weyama warned that some institutions appear to have informal student structures operating without regulation, resembling unofficial leadership systems.
“It is as if there is an ‘unofficial student government’ operating in some institutions without proper regulation,” he said.
He urged parents and authorities to closely monitor student communication channels, especially WhatsApp groups, which he said may be facilitating coordinated unrest.
“Student-led groups, especially those organized through platforms like WhatsApp, must be properly monitored and regulated,” he said.
He warned that failure to address the issue will continue to strain teachers, who are often at the center of managing school unrest.
KUPPET Trans Nzoia Treasurer Edwin Prichani Mwakesa also linked student unrest to declining parental responsibility and weakened moral guidance at home.
He noted that some parents are easily influenced by children who are increasingly tech-savvy and capable of manipulating situations.
“A child may return home and falsely accuse a teacher, and without proper investigation, parents react immediately,” Mwakesa said.
He cautioned that such reactions often unfairly blame teachers despite their limited role in discipline under current education guidelines.
Mwakesa emphasized that discipline begins at home and that teachers cannot effectively shape behavior without parental support.
“If a child is not well guided at home, even teachers will struggle to shape their behavior,” he said.
He called for renewed cooperation between parents and teachers, noting that earlier generations benefited from stronger community-based discipline systems where elders actively corrected children.
“We must restore cooperation between parents and teachers if we are to solve the problem of student unrest,” Mwakesa said.
