The Ministry of Education is suggesting a new law called the Basic Education Bill, 2024.
If passed, it would mean County Commissioners become chairpersons of County Education Boards (CEBs).
This would be different from the current rule, which says the Cabinet Secretary appoints an educator with at least five years of experience in the country.
According to Ezekiel Machogu, the Education Cabinet Secretary, this proposed law would keep the County Director of Education or their representative as the Secretary to the County Education Board, just like it is now.
These changes were discussed at a meeting where the Draft Sessional Paper and Bills were presented.
This meeting was held at the Kenya Institute of Special Education.
Machogu explained that these changes came from suggestions made by the Presidential Working Party on Education Reforms (PWPER).
The goal of these changes is to fix issues seen in Kenya’s education system.
At this meeting, important figures like Dr. Belio Kipsang, Dr. Esther Muoria, and Dr. Beatrice Inyangala, who are Principal Secretaries for different education departments, were present.
Machogu also promised that the government would increase the funding for the Free Days Secondary Education program back to Sh22,244.
He said, “The reduced funding was because of limited money. Increasing it will help secondary schools.”
Another change proposed is that universities should only offer graduate and postgraduate programs.
Diploma and certificate courses would be left to middle-level colleges.
The Ministry of Education shared various documents with stakeholders for discussion and feedback.
These included the Sessional Paper on a Policy Framework for Education Reforms in Kenya, 2024.
“The Sessional paper will include all the suggestions in the Report and will be presented to Parliament for approval,” said Machogu.
Several bills were presented, covering different aspects of education.
These included bills related to technical and vocational education, scholarships, and curriculum development.
Stakeholders at the meeting represented teachers’ unions, faith-based groups, public university leaders, civil society members, education officials, and organizations in the education sector.
