Education

Schools have been instructed to administer the tasks and ensure the scores for all learners are uploaded within the stipulated timelines.

The UoN Council urged the Ministry of Education to show leadership by standing firm against external pressure from individuals or groups who, it claims, are promoting impunity and ignoring proper legal procedures.

The move comes after the government completed the development of modules for 188 out of 250 courses, marking a significant step in the rollout of the Competency-Based Education and Training (CBET) system.

According to the budget estimates, Moi University’s recurrent budget will drop from Sh3.3 billion to Sh1.96 billion in the next fiscal year.

Over 50 learners will benefit from practical training following a fully functional training aircraft acquisition, which will serve as a hands-on learning tool to complement classroom instruction and prepare them for real-world experiences in the aviation field.

On Thursday, the University of Nairobi Council announced Prof Bitange Ndemo as the next vice chancellor to succeed Prof Hutchinson after his diplomatic term, but he later declined the appointment.

The report lists Kenyatta University, the University of Nairobi, and Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology as having the highest debt loads.

The falling-out highlights persistent governance challenges in Kenya's public universities, especially the University of Nairobi, where political influence, opaque procedures, and factional manoeuvring often cloud merit-based appointments.

Beneficiaries can now use the WorldRemit platform to settle their student loans from anywhere in the world.

Total funding for the education sector is expected to fall from Sh601.5 billion in 2023/24 to Sh594.2 billion in 2024/25, representing a 1.2 per cent decrease.

Prof Anangwe emphasised that the appointment aligns with the Universities Act 2012 and is intended to bring stability to an institution that has been marred by nearly two years of internal disputes and leadership uncertainty, including the ousting of former Vice Chancellor Prof Stephen Kiama.

CS Ogamba said the crisis stems from limited budgetary allocations and uneven teacher distribution across counties.

According to KNBS, out of the 324,828 applicants who were not successful, 292,751 were students from public universities, 12,159 were from private universities, and 48,231 were from TVET colleges.

Pre-primary school enrolment increased to 2.91 million pupils in 2024, up from 2.88 million in 2023. Enrolment for boys grew by 1.5 per cent, surpassing the 0.5 per cent growth among girls. The number of learners in the teacher training programme (ECDE) slightly decreased by 0.1 per cent to 2.65 million.

Macharia is scheduled to exit on June 30, 2025, bringing to a close a decade-long leadership that began in July 2015. She is currently serving her second five-year term.

Out of the 2,014 vacancies,1,309 positions allocated for primary schools, 32 for junior schools and 673 for senior secondary schools.

They have now called on the government to halt the implementation of the reclassification and engage with the relevant stakeholders before proceeding with any changes that could adversely impact teachers’ welfare.

MPs condemned the commission’s continued disregard of the 2019 Employment and Labour Relations Court ruling, which found the age restriction discriminatory and in violation of the right to equal opportunity.

The union argues that the layoffs violate the agreed terms between the union and the university management, accusing the institution of bypassing proper procedures outlined in the agreement.

KNUT insists many qualified individuals are being unfairly locked out of the teaching profession despite having attained higher academic qualifications such as degrees and master’s degrees.

Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba on Wednesday announced that public schools are set to receive Sh21 billion in capitation funds starting Monday, bringing relief to institutions grappling with delays that have disrupted the second term.

Addressing education stakeholders, Ogamba attributed the delay to competition for limited government resources but confirmed that the Treasury had committed to the release.

The final budget released to HELB by the National Treasury is earmarked for a predetermined number of students in universities and TVET institutions under the Ministry of Education.

Ultimately, the goal is to establish a National Education Fund to consolidate resources and ensure no child is denied access to education due to a lack of fees.

The Employment and Labour Relations Court declared the removal process unlawful and instructed that Prof Wainaina resume duty without delay.

Through a certificate of urgency signed by legal officer Abigael Rasugu, she argues that the lack of clarity on these orders has paralysed bursary processing, with no approvals made since the orders were issued.

The funding seeks to support more than half a million refugees and displaced youth in completing their education by 2030.

The union’s secretary-general, Collins Oyuu, maintained that the teachers should not be under KUPPET’s jurisdiction, as they are stationed in primary institutions, not secondary schools.

CS Ogamba called on school principals to urgently reach out to former students, encouraging them to collect their certificates without delay.

CS Ogamba attributed the situation to political patronage and tribalism, which have been prevalent in the appointment of university vice chancellors and council members.

Senators want the TSC to explain whether an appeal mechanism was put in place for aggrieved teachers and how many complaints have been lodged and resolved so far.

In addition to the admission fees, parents are also facing unlawful charges for textbooks, desks, exam fees and remedial lessons.

KNUT Deputy Secretary General Hesbon Otieno urged the government to ensure the timely release of 30 per cent of the capitation funds allocated for the second term.

Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Migos Ogamba admitted that the sector is facing deep-rooted challenges.

Vice Chancellors and Principals were summoned to explain the use of hundreds of millions on Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems that have not provided value.

Appearing before a joint sitting of the Health and Education Committee on Thursday, Oluoch appealed for government support, saying the college is grappling with unpaid fees amounting to Sh1.54 billion.

While some stakeholders support the choice-based system, others have raised concerns, especially on the decision to make mathematics optional for non-STEM students.

Legislators have now urged the government to urgently restructure the scheme and explore feasible options to ensure teachers receive the medical care they deserve.

Under the revised curriculum, STEM students will continue with advanced mathematics, while their peers in the other two pathways will engage with more foundational versions of the subject, designed to align with their focus areas.

The CS also announced that the current categorisation of schools into national, extra-county, county, or sub-county will be abolished starting next year. Instead, schools will be classified either as triple pathway or double pathway institutions.

Appearing before the National Assembly’s Public Investment Committee on Governance and Education, CUE Chief Executive Officer Mike Kuria said the commission has issued demand notices to the six universities to settle their debts.

The Council members, Dr Parmain Ole Narikae, Carren Kerubo Omwenga, Sally Ngeringwony Toroitich and Ahmed Sheikh Abdullahi, were removed just days before a scheduled Council meeting expected to deliberate on critical governance matters, including the appointment of a substantive Vice-Chancellor.

The Bill proposes that while most of these allowances will be non-pensionable, the responsibility allowance will be pensionable if a teacher earns it up to and including their last date of service.

They argue that the hardship allowance, being the only allowance specific to their working conditions, must be adjusted to reflect the daily struggles teachers face.

Speaking during a press briefing, Oyuu decried what he termed as the TSC’s abdication of its legal role, saying the commission had surrendered its constitutional authority to political operatives.

At present, various bodies, including governors, Members of Parliament, ward representatives, the Ministry of Education, and the President, are all giving out bursaries to needy learners.

Machakos County topped the list with 690 promotions, contrasting sharply with Garissa’s 303, the lowest among all counties.

HELB has processed over 109,000 funding requests from new students that had been delayed due to a High Court ruling in December 2024, which temporarily halted the new funding model.

According to the Kenya Universities and Colleges Central Placement Service (KUCCPS), 104,514 of the 246,391 eligible candidates have applied for placement in degree programmes.

MPs say CUE’s weak oversight has eroded academic standards and left students vulnerable to fraudulent institutions operating without proper accreditation.

KNUT has called on the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) to include the proposed pay rise, alongside a host of other demands, in the next CBA scheduled to take effect from July 2025.