Bishop Maurice Muhatia (centre) with other catholic bishops in a past meeting/FILEThe Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops (KCCB) has issued a clarion call for stability and clarity in the country’s education sector, citing years of confusion that they say have jeopardised the future of learners.
In a statement released Thursday, the bishops criticised recent education policy decisions, arguing that they have often appeared driven by political expediency rather than the welfare of students.
They specifically highlighted the transition from the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC) to the Competency-Based Education (CBE) framework.
This, according to the bishops, has been implemented without clear guidance for teachers, parents, and learners.
“This is a risk to the future of our children, who are navigating a system with no clear end expectations,” they said in a statement read on their behalf by Bishop Maurice Muhatia.
The bishops also expressed concern over ongoing disagreements regarding the syllabus, particularly the inclusion of religious education, and the persistent shortage of teachers in rural areas.
They urged that equity in teacher deployment be prioritised to address these gaps.
School administrators, the bishops noted, face daily challenges such as delays in capitation funds, restrictions on charging extra fees, and instructions that no student should be turned away for inability to pay school fees.
“We should not gamble with our children’s lives,” they warned.
Despite these concerns, the bishops acknowledged positive developments in the sector and the country at large.
They welcomed the ongoing recruitment of 24,000 teachers by the Teachers Service Commission (TSC), expressing hope that the exercise would significantly improve staffing levels.
The bishops also lauded the government’s efforts to stabilise the Kenyan shilling against the US dollar, its continued investment in infrastructure, particularly roads, and the expansion of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) colleges across the country.
They encouraged young people to take advantage of these institutions to acquire critical skills for the job market.
The bishops at the same time expressed gratitude for the relative peace the country has enjoyed this year despite heightened political tensions, while urging both the government and citizens to continue working together to address the challenges facing the nation.
The group further called for honesty and fairness on matters of the Social Health Authority (SHA).
"Indeed, many people have received treatment under the SHA coverage in numerous hospitals, for which we are grateful," the statement read.
"However, the sustainability of the Medical Scheme depends on timely and adequate payment to health providers, the hospitals that deliver these essential services to patients."
