Implement CBC reforms immediately, Ruto Orders MOE
President William Ruto has issued a directive to the Ministry of Education to implement education reforms within the given timeframe.
This is after the Presidential Working Party on Education Reforms submitted its report to the President at the State House on Tuesday.
Some of the recommendations include the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (KICD) reducing learning areas in Lower Primary from 9 to 7, Upper Primary from 12 to 8, Junior Schools from 14 to 9, Pre-Primary to have 5 and Senior Schools have 7.
The committee wants the school capitation to be increased by Sh 1,170 for Pre-Primary, Double capitation to Sh2,238 for Primary level, Junior Schools Sh 15,043 and Sh22,527 for Senior Schools (Day);.
Others include Sh19,800 for Special Needs Institutions (SNE) (Day) and Sh38,280 for SNE (Boarding).
They recommended that the capitation and grants be reviewed every three years.
The committee wants the Ministry of Education to adopt a Comprehensive School system (PP1 — Grade 9) comprising Pre-Primary, Primary school and Junior School managed as one institution.
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They also recommended dropping the term “Secondary” from Junior Secondary and Senior Secondary Schools.
PWPER wants the coordination of bursaries and scholarships to be under the Kenya Basic Education Bursaries and Scholarship Council.
According to the report, they want an introduction of a mandatory three months community service program for Senior School graduates before joining Tertiary institutions.
They want the ministry to implement nine months of mandatory community service after completing Tertiary education and issue a certificate of compliance as proof before entering the workforce.
“Discontinue the current categorization of public Secondary schools (national, extra-county, county, sub-county) and adopt a categorization based on career pathways for Senior Schools,” the report read.
PWPER recommended the implementation of a one-year mandatory retooling program for pre-service training graduates to be CBC-compliant and a one-year internship before registration as teachers.
Other recommendations include adopting a sustainable financing model for University education that combines grants/scholarships, loans and household contributions for differentiated categories of students.
The committee asked that the ministry enact the proposed Tertiary Education Placement and Funding Bill to amalgamate HELB, UFB, and TVET Fund for higher education funding efficiency.
They also want the institutionalized linkages of TVETs with industries and government projects and develop pathways for continuity between TVETs and Universities.
“Develop guidelines for accelerated education programs for marginalized groups, learners with special needs, and adult and continuing education to enhance equitable access and also develop internal capacity of KNEC to print national assessments,” the statement read.
