Basic Education PS Prof Julius Bitok, Senate Speaker Amason Kindi and another official during the Fifth Session planning retreat in Naivasha/HANDOUT
The Senate has been challenged to tighten its oversight of
county governments to improve the quality of pre-primary education.
The development comes amid growing concerns over poor
infrastructure, underpaid teachers, and weak learning outcomes among young
learners.
Basic Education PS Prof Julius Bitok told senators meeting
at the Fifth Session planning retreat in Naivasha that while Kenya has made
major gains in access to education, foundational learning remains fragile due
to gaps at the Early Childhood Development Education (ECDE) level.
He said that although pre-primary enrolment stands at 94.2
per cent, learning outcomes paint a worrying picture.
He disclosed that three in ten Grade Six learners are unable
to solve Grade Three mathematics and nearly half are struggling to comprehend a
Grade Three English text.
“These statistics demand urgent intervention. We must move
from focusing only on enrolment numbers to ensuring quality learning,” said Bitok.
The PS noted that the national government had made
significant progress in basic education, including nearly 100 per cent transition
to senior school under the Competency-Based Education system.
The government has recruited 100,000 teachers, expanded
classrooms and laboratories, and ensured the timely disbursement of capitation
funds.
He added that the recent verification exercise that removed
ghost learners from school registers would improve planning and ensure
resources are allocated based on accurate data.
However, he said the biggest weaknesses remain at the ECDE
level, which is under county governments.
The PS called on the Senate to ensure counties prioritise
child-friendly infrastructure in their County Integrated Development Plans.
In some regions, he said, pre-primary pupils still learn
under trees or in dilapidated structures, while ECDE teachers face delayed
salaries, lack of pension schemes and casualised employment.
“An unhappy teacher cannot nurture a child’s mind. We must
harmonise schemes of service and move away from short-term contracts that
undermine professionalism,” he said.
Prof Bitok also raised concerns over disparities in school
feeding programmes, noting that some counties provide meals while others do
not, creating what he termed a “lottery of birth” where a child’s nutrition
depends on where they live.
He proposed a national–county framework to guarantee at
least one fortified meal daily for every ECDE learner.
The PS further called for stronger coordination between the
national and county governments to address policy gaps between pre-primary and
primary education.
This includes the adoption of a uniform curriculum,
equitable resource allocation and full rollout of the Kenya Education
Management Information System to track learners from early years.
He told senators that the education budget has reached a
historic high of more than Sh700 billion but still faces a Sh111 billion
deficit needed to fully fund free primary education, school feeding and
national assessments.
The Senate was also urged to support the proposed Basic
Education (Amendment) Bill, 2025, which seeks to clarify roles between the two
levels of government and strengthen coordination in the sector.
Senators were reminded that they are “ultimate guardians” of
the more than four million children enrolled in ECDE centres through their
oversight role over counties.
“Your oversight is the bridge between a child’s potential
and their reality. By holding counties accountable, you ensure funds meant for
our youngest learners reach the classroom,” he said.
The retreat, attended by senior government officials, is
reviewing legislative priorities and oversight strategies ahead of the new
parliamentary session.
