Gearing up for union leadership in Nyamira

As the five-year term of the current KUPPET officials is first approaching, the vigor for new members to take up the posts is at a very low gear. Teachers specifically in Nyamira branch have been expecting the current office bearers and the members warming up for the posts to be on the forefront in mobilizing members for the forthcoming elections.

It should be noted that there are several teachers, and in that matter, members of the union who have never participated in choosing of their union leaders. These include those teachers who have been employed within the last five years. During this period, neither the employer nor the union has had the cutesy to invite them for a meeting and induct them or listen to the challenges they are facing in their new work places. That group of teachers need a lot of guidance in regard to union elections and union mandate. That guidance should start now and not later. The incumbents should tell these group of teachers what they haven't done that they need to do or what they will do differently if reelected.  Previously TSC has been calling for induction meeting for new teachers but that has not happened since the year 2012. It was a good practice that could have been maintained or the union should have taken it up.

There is another group of long serving teachers who have never seen the reason of joining a union. Such teachers think that joining a union or not joining is just the same. Just like some naive individuals in our society think that voting in a general election or not voting wouldn't affect their way of life. Let me remind them even if they could be in the inner circles of the current school administrations and they do not expect any push and pull that may require the intervention of the union officials, union leaders make decisions that can affect our profession significantly. For instance, at this time of the pandemic, their advice to the government to or not to open schools is weighty, union officials can decide to sponsor teachers to attend professional development seminars among other things. Therefore, choosing the right leaders in the union is protecting our professional integrity.

If you take a look at the organizations of other professions like the law society of the Kenya (LSK), choosing their leaders is so competitive to an extent of even igniting debates in our national television stations. Here in our union things are so soundless that even the members are now requesting to know if there are other contests apart from the current office bearers. Mwalimu Atari has posted in the various Nyamira teachers WhatsApp groups requesting the various aspirants to come out. Only a few have shown interest of tackling incumbents. They include;

Vice-chair

• Renson Mokaya

Ass. Ex Sec

• Robert Kipkirui
• Evans Matuga(Gavana)

Gender

• Mosiria

Let me do me do a little research and post the photos of these aspirants, their background and their philosophies.

Nyamira KUPPET politics

Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET), is growing to be a giant in articulating education matters in general and issues affecting the Kenyan teacher in particular. The growth of the union can be attributed to the increased sensitization of the teachers, the preserved good and genuine leadership in KUPPET, infighting within the Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) which is now scaring new teachers from joining it, to list but a few.

In Kenya, teachers constitute the largest cohort of government employees followed by the police who are not allowed to form or join a union. This means that the influence of a person in a leadership position in a giant teachers’ union such as KUPPET is overwhelming. Such a person is expected to not only deal with education matters but a wide spectrum of issues in the society which normally catapults such individuals to others leadership positions including in the county governments or the national assembly leaving the union positions for other teachers.

The post of the executive secretary is the most powerful among all the posts in the union. As the date for choosing the next officials draws nearer, in Nyamira the executive secretary’s position seems like it will be a one horse race. According to the survey conducted in the last two weeks, the incumbent executive secretary Mr. Lewis Nyakweba has clear upper hand of retaining the seat if he still contests. The survey included four other office bearers who were expected to be influential in matters relating to KUPPET politics.








This indicates that Mr. Nyakweba is getting a thumbs up for the leadership he is offering in the Nyamira KUPPET. It should be noted that Nyamira had a successful AGM where all attendants were issued with branded KUPPET t-shirts and most teacher were accorded an opportunity to air their comments on how the union can grow farther. Moreover, the union has come out strongly to support the co-curriculum activities in the county by either issuing t-shirts, trophies and even drinking water among other incentives. Attendance of a KUPPET official during the opening or closing ceremony of a co-curriculum activity in the county is now a norm. Although the Nyamira teachers would like to see more pronounced progress like acquiring a KUPPET bus and acquiring land for its offices, it indicates that the small progress and the good gesture of Mr. Nyakweba’s leadership of the union is resonating well with the teachers.

The executive secretary has also been in the frontline in advising teachers on matters pertaining the teaching profession and even defending them whenever they are wrongly or rightfully accused. He always attends teachers’ activities like workshops and Mwalimu National Sacco AGMs to bring the support, power and prestige of his office. During such functions he will not miss to throw one or two pieces of advice to the teachers either through the microphone line or informally in small groupings before or after the meeting.

The survey also shows that a small number of teachers were ready to participate for various reasons. Others feared that maybe their identities could be revealed not knowing that the website used doesn't have the provision of knowing who voted. It only keeps record of the electronic device that has voted to avoid voting more than once from the same device. It could also exemplify the tendency of humans that they can't be asked to vote without proper campaign and mobilization including transportation (in this case bundles to go online). Thirdly and less significant is that some teachers may have not known how to participate in the online voting. Contrary, in the neighboring Kisii county, in every survey it records over 300 participants.

You can check the survey by clicking here.

As I conclude, I would like to wish you a happy freedom day that will be celebrated on Sunday the third day of May the year 2020.

BY;

Erwin Mogusu (omogusu@gmail.com),

A teacher in Nyamira county.

Biology revision

Below are a set of biology essay questions, click on the question to reviel the answers.

1. Explain the various ways in which a typical cell is adapted to its functions

2. Explain how the various specialized cells aremodified to carry out their functions in plants and animals

3. Describe how the mammalian body protects itselfagainst infections

4. How are the leaves of higher plants adapted to their functions?

5. Explain how the various teeth adapt mammals fornutrition

6. Describe what happens to a meal of oily beansand maize from the time of ingestion up to the time of absorption

7. Howare the small intestines in mammals adapted to their functions?

8. Outline and explain the various homeostaticfunctions of the liver in mammals

9. Explain why the following conditions are necessary for photosynthesis 
a) Carbon (IV) Oxide
b) Light
c) Chlorophyll
d) Suitable temperature and pH
e) Water

10. How is the ileum adapted to its functions?

11. a)What is homeostasis?

b)Name any three factors that must be maintained constant in mammalian bodies
c)Explain how endotherms respond to heat and cold conditions in their environment

12. Describe the route taken by water from the soilup to the evaporating surface of a plant

13. How is the mammalian heart adapted to its functions?

14. Describe double circulation in mammals

15. Describe the process of urine formation in the mammalian kidneys 

16. Explain the role of the following hormones during homeostasis

a) Antidiuretic Hormone (ADH)
b) Insulin
c) Glucagon

17. a)Distinguish between Diabetes mellitus and Diabetes insipidus 
b) Explain how mammalian bodies regulate glucose and protein levels in their blood

18. Explain how the various abiotic factors mayaffect plants 

19. Discuss the causes, effects and control measures for water pollution

20. How are xerophytes and hydrophytes adapted to their habitats?

21. Outline the differences between wind and insect pollinated flowers

22. Describe what happens in a flower from the time of pollination up to the time of seed and fruit development

23. Discuss the adaptations of the female reproductive system of humans

24. Describe the process of gaseous exchange in terrestrial plants

25. How is the mammalian gaseous exchange system adapted to its functions?

26. Describe the structure and function of the mammalian skin

27. Describe the role of the following hormones in the menstrual cycle 
a) Luteinising Hormone (LH)
b) Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH)
c) Oestrogen
d) Progesterone

28. a) What is secondary growth? 
b) Describe the process of secondary thickening in a woody stem

29. Discuss the various mechanisms of opening and closing of stomata

30. a) What is natural selection? 
b) Discuss three examples of natural selection in action

31. Discuss Lamarck’s and Darwin’s theories of evolution

32. a) Explain how the following blood cells are adapted to their functions 
i) Red Blood Cell
ii) White blood cell
b) Explain the different ways in which Carbon (IV) Oxide is transported by blood

33. Describe how the following vertebrae are adapted to their functions 
a) Atlas
b) Axis
c) Lumbar
d) Thoracic

34. a) Why is locomotion necessary in higher animals? 
b) Explain how bony fish are adapted to their habitats

35. Describe how the various supportive tissues in plants adapt them to their habitats

36. a) What is a reflex action? 
b) Outline the activities that occur in the body when one touches a hot object

37. Describe the nitrogen cycle

38. Discuss how the various tropisms adapt plants to their habitats

39. Discuss the various evidences of organic evolution

40. Describe the structure and functions of the various parts of the mammalian ear

41. Discuss the various ways employed by preys to avoid the predators

42. a) What is meant by the term symbiosis? 
b) Describe five types of symbiotic relationships in a natural ecosystem

43. a) Describe the adaptations of Schistosoma spp to their parasitic mode of life

b) Outline five measures that can be employed to prevent andcontrol the spread of the parasite

44. Describe the process of mitosis 

45. Discuss the various mechanisms that hinder self-pollination and self-fertilisation in plants

46. How are seeds and fruits of plants adapted to their mode of dispersal?

47. a) Distinguish between mutations, mutants and mutagens 
b) Give two causes of mutations 
c) Describe the causes and effects of chromosomal mutations

48. a) What is transpiration? 
b) Explain how the various environmental factors affect the rate of transpiration

49. How is the mammalian eye adapted to its functions?

50. Discuss the role of the various hormones in plant growth and development

51. Explain how the process of evolution may result to the formation of a new species

52. Discuss the various ways in which anaerobic respiration is utilized in industries and homes

53. a) What is digestion? 

b) What is the importance of a balance diet in human nutrition?

54. Explain the factors that affect enzyme activity

55. Discuss the adaptations of the male reproductive system of humans

56. Discuss the structure and functions of the various muscle tissues found in humans

57. State the economic importance of members of Monera and Fungi and for each economic importance name a suitable or appropriate organism

58. Describe the adaptations of the nervous system to its functions

59. Discuss the composition and functions of mammalian blood

60. Describe the defects that affect the mammalian eye and how they could be corrected

Describe the defects that affect the mammalian eye and how they could be corrected

Short-sightedness (myopia); a condition where light rays from a distant object are focused in front of the retina; while those from a near object are clearly focused on the retina; it is caused by an abnormally elongated eyeball; or too much refractive power of the eye lens; it is corrected by wearing concave/diverging lenses; which help to diverge light rays; or reduce the refractive power of the eye before they reach the eye lens; Long-sightedness (Hypermetropia); light rays from a near object are not focused by the time they reach the retina; or may be focused behind the retina; while the rays from a distant object are sharply focused; the defect is caused by an eyeball that is too short; or a weak lens system (distance between lens and the retina is short); corrected by wearing a convex/converging lens; which refracts light rays before reaching the eye lens; this enhances refraction resulting in rays being sharply focused onto the retina; Astigmatism; rays from an object are brought to focus on different planes; due to unequal curvature of the cornea/lens; causing unequal refraction of light entering the eye; this defect is corrected by wearing special cylindrical lens in front of the eye; the lens corrects the focus in the defective planes; Colour-blindness; a genetic defect; in which an animal is unable to distinguish between colours particularly within the red-green spectrum; the retina lacks cones; pigments that respond to colour vision; Squintedness; an eye defect in which extrinsic muscles of the eye; that controls the turning of the eyeball do not co-ordinate accordingly on stimulation; it affects the paired rectus muscles that move the eyeball up and down; and the lateral rectus muscles that move the eyeball left to right; the eyeballs therefore face different directions; making focusing and accommodation difficult to achieve; corrected by specialized surgery; Old sight (Presbyopia); caused by old age; when supplies of nutrients and oxygen to the lens is far much reduced; hence the cells of the lens die; the lens’ elasticity is reduced; and hence cannot change shape; and becomes fixed into a shape that is not suitable for distant vision; managed by use of ‘reading glasses’ that have converging lenses; to give the eyes an extra power to manage close work; Cataracts; associated with old age; but may also be caused by an eye injury due to a blow;  or complications of diabetes mellitus; the eye lens become cloudy; blocking transmission of light rays; protein fibres become denatured; and clump together making the lens opaque; corrected by surgery; to replace the defective lens with a normal one from a donor; or use of artificial lens;

Discuss the composition and functions of mammalian blood

Mammalian blood consists of two main components: Blood plasma; and the blood cells; (Red blood cells/Erythrocytes, White blood cells/Leucocytes and Platelets/Thrombocytes); Blood plasma transport  nutrients (glucose, amino acids, vitamins, fatty acids and glycerol, dissolved oxygen) to tissues; transports hormones, enzymes/metabolic regulators to target organs and tissues; Transport excretory substances/wastes from the cells; to excretory organs for elimination from the body; Distribute heat energy; helping in thermoregulation; transports/contains water, plasma proteins and dissolved mineral salts; important in osmoregulation; Suspends blood cells; Red blood cells transport oxygen; and dissolved carbon (IV) oxide; helps in regulation of pH; White blood cells help in protection/immunity; by engulfing or producing antibodies to kill/destroy invading micro-organisms/pathogens; Platelets help in blood clotting; preventing excessive blood loss; entry of pathogens; and promotes healing of wounds;  Acc. Adaptive features

Describe the adaptations of the nervous system to its functions

The central nervous system consists of the brain; and the spinal cord; and nerve fibres; that serve the sensory organs ; and the effector organs and glands; the brain is a collection of millions/billions/10⁹ neurones; that form the biggest ganglion; it is highly convoluted; to provide a large surface area for impulse reception, processing and transmission; the brain and the spinal cord are protected by the meninges; the brain and the spinal cord have spaces/canals and ventricles; filled with a cerebrospinal fluid; which acts as a bridge/supply medium for oxygen and nutrients; and the removal of metabolic waste; the brain has centres for the storage; retrieval and processing of impulses; the cerebrum processes and stores information; the cerebellum; sends impulses to joints and muscles; to correct balance; the medulla oblongata sends impulses to the cardiovascular; and breathing/ventilation systems; to regulate them; the brain has the hypothalamus that secretes a neurosecretion to influence a pituitary gland that secretes hormones; involved in reproduction; and homeostatic functions; the hypothalamus; detects changes in temperature; and osmotic pressure; and sends impulses to relevant effector organs for their regulation; the thalamus; receives majority of the impulses and channels them to the relevant areas of the brain; both the brain and the spinal cord have regions of the grey matter; that enable very rapid processing/transmission of impulses; the nervous system has neurones (relay/intermediate, motor and sensory); that transmit impulses at a very rapid note/speed (100 ms^-1) to and from the central nervous system to effect suitable responses; there exists in the central nervous system an electrochemical gradient/concentration gradient; that allows for the generation of electrical impulses; they have numerous mitochondria; for generating energy for the function of the sodium pump; which enables polarization and repolarisation; during impulse transmission and refractory/recovery periods; the spinal cord has no integration/association functions and is therefore suited for reflex actions; needed in emergencies; the spinal cord is long; and connects nerve fibres of the peripheral nerves with the brain for storage of information; the spinal cord has a dorsal root for sensory fibres/neurones; and a ventral root; for motor neurones/fibres; Accept any other correct 

State the economic importance of members of Monera and Fungi and for each economic importance name a suitable or appropriate organism

Fungi: Yeast is used in the production of alcohol; and raising dough in baking; production of vitamins B₂ and B₁₂ and for beer brewing; some mushrooms are used as food; Saprophytic fungi such as Mucor spp/Rhizopus spp cause food spoilage; are also used in retting of natural fibres such as flax; and in the curing of tea and tobacco; The fungi also decompose organic matter helping to clean the environment and recycle materials. Saprophytic fungi are also used to make silage; compost; and digesting sewage in sewage treatment plants; Penicillium spp is used for the manufacture of antibiotics; Fungi is used for making ghee and cheese in dairies; parasitic fungisuch as Phytophthora spp infest crops e.g. potatoes and tomatoes and destroy them/cause blight; somefungi such as Aspergillus spp produce food poisons and is also used in the synthesis of enzyme amylase; Mycorrizae fungi enable trees e.g. pinus to absorb water amd mineral salts more efficiently in silviculture/man-made forests; some fungi such as and Tinus spp cause diseases such as yeast infections (Candidiasis, ‘Athlete’s foot’) and ‘ringworms’ respectively; some Candida spp is used in making enriched food/single-celled proteins used in animal feeds/silage; Gibberella spp is used in the synthesis of Gibberellins for plant growth; it also causes poor crop growth through bolting of plants e.g. rice and wheat;

Bacteria: Some bacteria e.g. Vibrio spp cause disease to humans and other animals (any one disease); Clostridium spp and Bacillus spp bacteria are used in retting of flax; Lactobacillus spp are important in the manufacture of yoghurt/silage; and lactic acid; some bacteria e.g. Streptomyces are used in making antibiotics (Streptomycin); organic acids such ac acetic and ethanoic acids are made using Acetobacter spp of bacteria; some bacteria like the soil bacteria

(Bacillus spp) make enzymes used in detergents; Escherichia coli (E. coli)/colon bacteria contaminates drinking water and may cause diseases; bacteria such as Bacillus spp and are used in making hormones such as insulin through genetic engineering/modification; all saprophytic bacteria such as E. coli/Bacillus spp/Pseudomonas spp are used in the production of methane/biogas; Rhizobium spp of bacteria helps in nitrogen fixation making soils fertile;