The Ministry of Education has issued a stern warning to school heads against inviting non-teachers to train learners in co-curricular activities, following the ongoing controversy surrounding Butere Girls High School’s ‘Echoes of War’ play.

In a statement on Thursday, April 10, 2025, the Ministry of Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba emphasised that such actions violate the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) regulations and the Kenya National Drama and Film Festival (KNDFF) rules, which stipulate that only registered teachers or authorised professionals are allowed to engage in training and supervision of students in these activities.

“The ministry wishes to inform principals who invite non-teachers to their schools to train learners in co-curricular activities that they are in contravention of the TSC regulations as well as the rules and regulations for the Kenya National Drama and Film Festival,” Ogamba stated.

“Section 9.0 note C of the regulations states that ‘Trainers of KNDFF items shall be teachers and tutors registered by the Teachers Service Commission or lecturers employed by registered post-secondary education institutions.'”

Ogamba further quoted the TSC 2018 circular, which also prohibits teachers removed from the commission’s register from teaching, managing, or supervising students in any school programmes.

“TSC circular no. 14 dated June 13, 2018, on protection of pupils/students, states that “All principals/head teachers shall ensure that for any co-curricular activity, persons not registered as teachers, including teachers whose names have been removed from the register of teachers, should not be incorporated in school programmes to teach, handle, manage, coach, supervise and/or assist in the teaching, handling, managing, coaching, and supervision of pupils/learners’,” he stated.

The CS went on to disclose that his ministry is dedicated to nurturing student talent through co-curricular activities while advising school principals to adhere to the rules and regulations governing such programmes.

“The Ministry of Education is fully committed to promoting talents among our learners through all forms of co-curricular activities available in our school system. However, school principals are advised to stick to the rules and regulations governing co-curricular activities,” Ogamba said.

Learners vs politics

Furthermore, Ogamba stated that schoolchildren should not be used against authority and emphasised that political battles should be fought by politicians outside of learning environments.

“We cannot allow people to weaponise schoolchildren against authority. Let political wars be fought by politicians outside learning environments,” he said.

Butere Girls’ offence

Ogamba stated that Butere Girls violated the Kenya National Drama and Film Festival regulations by allowing Cleophas Malala to direct the highly discussed play.

“By allowing Mr Malala to direct the play, the school was in contravention of the regulations of the Kenya National Drama and Film Festival,” Ogamba added.