Education

The meeting at State House, Nairobi, brought together more than 10,000 teachers, union leaders and school heads’ associations, who pressed the government to act on urgent issues crippling schools and demoralising educators.

According to the University Statistics 2024/2025 Report by the Commission for University Education (CUE), a total of 14,879 international students are enrolled across Kenyan universities.

TSC has revealed that Junior Secondary Schools are operating at only 50 per cent of their required staffing levels, leaving millions of learners underserved.

The study points to the need to pay more attention to boys during the literacy sessions and to girls in the numeracy sessions during the implementation of the intervention programmes.

The President also defended his decision to host teachers at the State House, stressing that the event was not a political gathering but a forum to deliberate on education and Kenya’s future.

The President described the occasion as historic, saying it was the first time teachers were being hosted in such a setting at State House.

Countries including Chad, Ethiopia, Madagascar, and Rwanda have expanded coverage by as much as six times, demonstrating both increased access and stronger government commitment.

The dispute dates back to a Nakuru High Court decision in April 2025, which stopped the Controller of Budget (CoB) from approving bursary withdrawals.

According to the study, many schools also lack basic safety equipment such as fire extinguishers, emergency exits, perimeter walls, and updated records.

Supervisors with conflicts of interest will be reassigned, and centre managers will verify the details of all personnel and submit records to KNEC. KCSE supervisors will rotate weekly, with outgoing supervisors preparing handover notes for their replacements.

Despite efforts to hire more qualified staff, public institutions still face a shortage of PhD holders, an ageing pool of professors, and high dependence on part-time and adjunct lecturers.

The survival plans, anchored on numbers and increased government support, are designed to ensure universities continue to operate effectively despite losing a major share of tuition income.

UASU Secretary General Constantine Wasonga said the government had failed to fulfil negotiated and registered CBAs, leaving lecturers with no choice but to withdraw their services in all public universities.

The parties also agreed to promote 56 lecturers who had been interviewed in December last year and to review the statute governing the appointment of deans, restoring the previous appointment procedure.

The Auditor General warned that the Sh3 billion in unexplained expenditures reflects systemic governance weaknesses, pointing to a broader culture of poor financial discipline in public universities.

The verification, which began last week, follows a special audit report by the Auditor General that revealed billions of shillings may have been lost over the past four years through disbursements to non-existent schools or based on inflated learner numbers.

According to the ministry, schools that have completed verification have already received payments, while the rest are expected to be funded by next week.

As the first anniversary of the tragedy passes, families continue to demand transparency, accountability, and answers from both the government and the school, hoping to prevent such a disaster in the future.

Legislators raised concerns that unresolved gaps have left thousands of teachers frustrated, warning the Commission to act swiftly.

Vice Chancellor Prof. Isaack Kibwage appealed on Wednesday during a meeting with the Public Investments Committee on Governance and Education, chaired by MP Wanami Wamboka.

He noted that learners would lose the mentorship of teachers who have guided them for years, especially at a critical time when candidates are preparing for national examinations.

The heaviest impact is expected in regions that are already vulnerable. West and Central Africa could see 1.9 million children lose access to school, while 1.4 million more could be pushed out across the Middle East and North Africa.

The Public Investments Committee on Governance and Education criticised the university’s management for launching multiple projects without completing existing ones, terming it a wastage of public funds.

Her mother, Virginia Mawewu, said the gum was left in the bag by accident and that her daughter immediately admitted the mistake.

An audit covering the financial year ending June 30, 2024, has revealed that most institutions are operating far beyond legal salary limits, exposing a sector in crisis.

HELB confirmed that first-time applicants now have until September 14 to apply. Continuing students, meanwhile, have until September 7, extended from the previous August 31 deadline.

The school reiterated the timeline for applicants: “Advocates Training Programme (ATP) – 2026/2027 Academic Year - Applications are open for the ATP beginning February 9, 2026.

Ogamba explained that last year, the government conducted a thorough analysis of the actual cost of each university programme and subsequently reduced fees across all programmes by between 15 and 40 per cent.

Education Principal Secretary Julius Bitok cited a special audit by the Auditor General, which flagged instances where funds were not reaching the intended schools.

UASU official Duncan Mukhwana said the union is aware of attempts to force lecturers back to work through threats of termination.

The Committee, chaired by Bumula MP Wanami Wamboka, undertook the visits to follow up on audit queries flagged by the Auditor-General in relation to the two institutions

Teachers argue that the policy is discriminatory and undermines the principle of equal opportunity in hiring.

The teachers further raised concerns over promotion policies, which they say have left many of them sidelined.

National Secretary of the Kenya Teachers in Hardship and Arid Areas Welfare Association, Ndung’u Wangenye, protested the allocations, calling for affirmative action in favour of marginalised regions.

Milemba recalled that last term ended earlier than scheduled because of similar funding delays, insisting that the government must urgently act to avoid a repeat.

The Universities Fund and HELB have already disbursed funds to 802,159 university and TVET students nationwide, with upkeep funds being sent directly to students’ designated payment channels as they report to their institutions.

Under the new deal, resignation or dismissal no longer leads to total loss of benefits, as those leaving service will now qualify for gratuity and pension. Previously, teachers who exited under such circumstances forfeited these benefits entirely.

Basic Education Principal Secretary Julius Bitok said the directive will affect prayer sessions, social events and other non-academic gatherings, which he noted could distract candidates during the crucial period.

In Nairobi, results can be collected at the Foreign Examinations Office located at the New Mitihani House. In Mombasa, candidates are required to go to the Uhuru na Kazi Building, fourth floor.

Universities Academic Staff Union said negotiations with the university management, led by Vice Chancellor Prof Kiplagat Kotut, have failed to yield a solution even after more than a week of industrial action.

Secondary school candidates will sit the KCSE between November 3 and 21, 2025.

The term comes with strict government regulations, suspended co-curriculars and delayed funding that has left schools on edge.

Statistics show enrolment at TTCs has risen from 10,000 students in 2021 to more than 27,000 currently following the reforms.

Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers (Kuppet) Deputy Secretary General Moses Nthurima also raised the alarm, saying the delay had set up schools for a financial crisis.

The intake targets KCSE holders from 2000 to 2024, who can apply for diploma, craft, and artisan certificate programmes with the following minimum grade requirements: diploma (Level 6) – C-, craft certificate (Level 5) – D, and artisan certificate (Level 4) – E.

According to the guidelines, teachers aged 57 years and above stand to gain the most, with the scoring system heavily rewarding length of service and accumulated experience.

The Elimu Bora Working Group called for President William Ruto to release the report and recommendations of the presidential working party on education reform to address the issues.

The union also criticised counties for mismanaging essential services such as healthcare, cautioning that placing education under devolved units would threaten quality.

This comes even as most students reported that they have not received Helb funds released by the Ministry of Education on Tuesday, leaving many struggling to settle tuition and upkeep charges.

The initiative is aimed at ensuring the safety of learners by checking the roadworthiness of school transport vehicles before schools reopen for the new term. The clinics will help identify potential risks and provide guidance to schools and vehicle owners on corrective measures to enhance safety.

First-year students who reported to campuses on Monday, August 18, 2025, expressed confusion after many were unsure how much to pay following the government’s directive to reduce university fees.