President William Ruto has said he made key milestones in transforming the education sector since assuming office.
In remarks during the State of the Nation Address, Ruto said he is keen to transform the education sector into a formidable reservoir of skill, talent and highly competitive and innovative human capital to support a changed economy.
“Within weeks of taking office, I appointed the Presidential Working Party on Education Reforms which provided clarity on transition to the new CBC and made further recommendations on for more reforms from early childhood to the tertiary levels,” he said.
The Head of State noted that recommendations by the task force are already been implemented.
“The urgent and vexing question of transition to Junior Secondary School has been settled,” he added.
The President said primary school examinations will be used for monitoring learners’ progress but not placement in any grade.
He added that in keeping with his promise 56, 750 new teachers have been employed while 8,200 primary school teachers have been retained to deliver learning and teaching at the junior school level.
“With changes to the admission requirements for teacher training colleges, admission has increased by 300 per cent to now 20, 456 trainees,” he pointed out.
Ruto further noted that the task force recommended an overhaul of the existing education funding framework to a variable scholarship and loan model to address a funding gap which denied Kenyans the opportunity to pursue education in institutions of higher learning.
“The new model is student-centred and established the level of need for every student which becomes the primary consideration in allocation scholarships and loans,” he explained.
He added that to fully democratise the higher education system and make it accessible and affordable, the government chartered the Open University of Kenya.
He said the first 1,000 students will report next month.
