Nominees for the position of Principal Secretary (PS) in the Education Ministry have pledged to continue championing reforms in the key sector.
Belio Kipsang, a PS Nominee for Basic Education and his counterparts Beatrice Inyangala (Higher Education ) and Esther Muoria ( TVET) said their focus will be improving standards in the institutions falling under their separate jurisdiction.
Kipsang who was first to be grilled by members of the Education committee, which is led by Julius Melly (Tinderet MP), said he will count on his long experience in the docket, even as he pledged to spearhead transformation agendas.
Belio was in February last year moved to the State Department for Regional and Northern Corridor Development, as PS.
" I feel honoured to be given another chance to head the Basic Education state department as a PS. We will work all stakeholders to reform the crucial education sector," he said.
Notable reforms introduced at the Ministry of Education in 2013 when Dr Kipsang was the PS in charge of Basic Education include the introduction of the New Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC), 100 per cent transition policy, and the elimination of cheating in exams.
“ I am proud that I was part of the key team that formulated the policies that streamlined and led to a total overhaul of the education sector. We will continue with the good work we had started and even do more,” the PS nominee told MPs.
On her part, Ms Muoria said she will work with stakeholders to change the perception people have of Technical and Vocational Training institutes.
"It bothers me that most people perceive Technical institutions and polytechnics as places for school drop-outs. This is something that needs to change. One can acquire skills at that bottom level and progress to do even a PhD," she said.
Inyangala while outlining her plans if she gets confirmed for the position revealed that she will focus on improving standards in the Universities and see to it that the institutions sustain themselves.
"We should explore ways of encouraging innovations in our universities across all faculties," she said pointing out that it's unfair to recognize innovators in the Engineering and other technical courses and fail to do the same when a Social Scientist comes up with a new idea.
On making universities self-sustaining Inyangala said the learning institutions should be allowed to engage in income-generating activities and also make use of their idle assets.
"It's possible to revitalise income-generating activities in our universities like it is done in developed countries. The institutions can also commercialise research and also take advantage of available government procurement opportunities to do business," she explained