Machakos: Education Principal Secretary Belio Kipsang has eulogized the Chairperson of Kenya Primary Schools Heads Association (KEPSHA), Johnson Nzioka, as a progressive and distinguished educationist whose contribution left an irreplaceable gap in the education sector. He told mourners during his burial at Kasolongo village in Mwala Machakos County that the late Nzioka was an astute advocate for the welfare of head teachers in the country and mentored upright and industrious students.
According to Kenya News Agency, Nzioka, who died in a tragic road accident in Athi River, was actively involved in implementing the Competency Based Curriculum (CBC) that was meant to help learners focus on their competencies and develop skills while steering a smooth transition of learners from grade 8 to grade 9 in the country. ‘We sincerely appreciate his immense contribution in the presidential working party in domiciling Junior secondary in Primary schools and I thank him more because when we were worried about the grade 9 transition, he was able to work with head teachers to ensure the learners were settled in Primary schools,’ said Kipsang.
He lamented that the country had lost a key pillar in the education sector who, before his demise, sought to bring all Chairpersons of school heads in the counties to meet with the Education Ministry officials to deliberate on the implementation of the transition of students from grade 9 to 10.
The 51-year-old’s burial brought together other education bigwigs from the National, County government, and private sectors, whose presence accorded the departed educationist a befitting sendoff with tributes commending his dedication to the sector.
The Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) Secretary General Collins Oyuu, also present during the burial in Kasolongo, echoed the PS’s remarks and commended Nzioka as the only Chairperson who worked well and cooperated with KNUT. He further noted that Nzioka fostered peace in education institutions as he solved the animosity between teachers and school heads by cultivating a harmonious coexistence between the Union and head teachers in the country.
Machakos Governor Wavinya Ndeti hailed Nzioka for his dedication in shaping the teaching fraternity and pledged to drill a borehole at Kasolongo Primary in honor of the departed scholar.