Tinderet MP and National Assembly Departmental Committee on Education chairman Julius Melly has challenged Kenyans to propose specific action against students who assault teachers as Parliament gathers public views on six proposed education reform laws.
Melly said the issue of student indiscipline, including cases where learners assault teachers, had emerged during public participation at the Kitale National Polytechnic.
“Some are saying, ‘bring back the cane,’ but they don’t know what the law says,” Melly said during the forum.
The committee was collecting views from members of the public on six Education Reform Bills before Parliament proceeds with consideration of the proposed legislation.
The bills are the Tertiary Education, Placement and Funding Bill; Pre-Service Education and In-Service Training Bill, 2026; Basic Education (Amendment) Bill, 2026; Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (Amendment) Bill, 2026; Kenya National Educational Assessments Council Bill, 2026; and Kenya National Qualifications Framework (Amendment) Bill, 2026.
Melly said the public had raised questions about how the law should deal with violence involving teachers and learners, including situations where students attack teachers.
“They are saying sometimes a teacher is beaten by a child, or beaten by students. What action do we take when a teacher is beaten or when a teacher beats a student?” he asked.
The Tinderet MP challenged Kenyans to give Parliament concrete proposals instead of only raising concerns about indiscipline in schools.
“If a student beats a teacher, what action should we take? We are telling you, bring a proposal. What does the law say should be done? As a Kenyan, what action do you want us to take?” Melly said.
His remarks put student discipline and teacher protection among the issues emerging from the public consultations on the proposed education reforms.
Melly said citizens had a constitutional right to participate in the making of laws and urged Kenyans to take advantage of the public participation process to influence the proposed reforms.
“In the making of laws in the Republic of Kenya, citizens have their place,” he said.
The committee chairman said young people had also participated in the Kitale forum and submitted views on how they wanted the education system and proposed laws to address issues affecting them.
“There are many young people here, especially those in JSS, who were able to write well what they want in the law,” Melly said.
He singled out a student identified as Walter Wanjala, whom he said had made a notable contribution during the public participation exercise.
“There is a young man called Walter Wanjala. He explained very well what he wants the education law to look like and how education should be protected in the Republic,” Melly said.
The committee has been moving across counties to gather views from Kenyans on the six proposed Education Reform Bills.
“We were yesterday in Uasin Gishu and Elgeyo-Marakwet. We were there, and now we are going to Kakamega,” Melly said.
Melly said the public had responded positively to the consultations because the Constitution provides citizens with an opportunity to participate in the legislative process.
“People have been happy because, first, they have seen that the Constitution of Kenya gives them the power to give their views and to tell us what they want,” he said.
The committee has received questions and proposals covering various aspects of education, Melly said, adding that public participation would help lawmakers understand what Kenyans expect from the proposed reforms.
“They asked many questions about education, and if it is done well, you can give good views,” he said.
Melly urged Kenyans who had not attended the public hearings to submit their views to Parliament through memoranda, email and other official communication channels.
“You can give us your views through email or through memoranda. We also have enough opportunity,” he said.
