Education

According to the TSC, the programme will become a mandatory requirement for teachers seeking renewal of their practising licences as part of efforts to professionalise the teaching service.

President William Ruto has urged students to shun violence, calling on parents to play a greater role in raising their children.

Teachers Service Commission Chairman Jamleck Muturi said unrest in schools is usually preceded by complaints that should be addressed before they escalate.

Ogamba said the team will conduct a detailed review of the growing crisis and recommend measures to strengthen relations among learners, teachers, parents and other stakeholders in learning institutions.

The learners, Nakuru County education officials say, will be temporarily housed in about 300 tents fitted with mattresses provided by the National Police Service (NPS) as the school awaits completion of a new dormitory currently under construction.

Under the new system, users are required to register on the official KNEC e-Certificate portal using an email address and complete a secure identity verification process.

At the centre of the ruling is the absence of a national database to track beneficiaries of bursaries and scholarships, a gap the court said has allowed duplication of funding while many deserving students continue to miss out.

Universities Fund Acting Chief Executive Officer Dr Edwin Wanyonyi said the investment underscores the government’s commitment to strengthening higher education as a driver of national development.

TSC said it had received concerns from employees over unexpected changes in their June payslips, which showed increased PAYE deductions compared to previous months.

KNEC said affected candidates will be required to undergo a validation process of their primary school credentials before being allowed to sit for the September test.

The MPs raised the concerns during a committee sitting at Bunge Towers, where they examined the Auditor General reports covering the financial years 2021/2022 to 2024/2025.

KNEC has directed all registered senior schools to enrol Grade 10 learners on the Competency-Based Assessment portal for School-Based Assessment before the July 30, 2026 registration deadline.

According to the association, the current funding model is no longer sustainable as schools continue to grapple with rising prices of food, utilities, learning materials, transport, staff salaries and infrastructure maintenance.

The association’s chairman, Silas Obuhatsa, emphasised that involving parents more in school affairs would help identify and address problems before they escalate.

KUPPET said the remarks being made during the campaigns were creating fear among teachers and other civil servants, with some teachers from outside the county expressing concerns over their safety.

The petitioners, led by Maurice Otieno Ouma and Paul Juma Were, said deputy principals appointed between 2001 and 2014 have remained in the same grades for years despite gaining more experience and taking up additional duties in school administration.

HELB has been allocated Sh56.3 billion against a requirement of Sh112.1 billion to support an estimated 1.38 million students, leaving a deficit of Sh55.8 billion.

The new model will replace the current system, where learners leave secondary school with a single academic certificate. Under the reforms, learners will receive the Kenya Certificate of Basic Education (KCBE) together with a vocational or professional qualification linked to the Kenya National Qualifications Framework.

Ogamba noted that the incidents are not only disrupting academic programmes but also forcing schools to redirect funds that were meant to improve learning conditions and expand access to education.

Committee chair, Julius Melly, said the inquiry is intended to provide a clear and practical roadmap for addressing the situation, describing the unrest as a recurring challenge that requires urgent attention.

The initial distribution of Grade 10 textbooks was carried out using provisional enrolment data provided by the Ministry of Education.

Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi said the arrears will be paid before the end of the current financial year.

Mbadi noted that the allocation also marks a notable rise from the Sh526 billion allocated before President William Ruto’s administration took office, reflecting an increase of about 49 per cent.

Ogamba noted that the second term is traditionally the longest in the academic year, a situation the Ministry now wants to address through restructuring.

Education Cabinet Secretary (CS) Julius Ogamba said 204 schools (representing 2 per cent) have so far been affected, with most cases reported in boarding senior schools.

He noted that nine suspects have already been charged and are currently in custody. He expressed condolences to the families of the 16 learners who died and wished those injured a quick recovery.

Muslims for Human Rights (MUHURI) has raised concern over the crisis, which it says has persisted for over two weeks and has now led to the closure of several schools across the region.

PS Bitok says schools should engage learners and consider delaying mock examinations to ease tensions as student unrest affects about 80 secondary schools nationwide.

Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba has directed schools to increase the number of teachers on duty, especially during evening preps and in dormitories, while improving communication between administrators and learners.

The support will also cover funeral-related expenses, including mortuary charges, coffins, transportation of the deceased and the requiem mass that will be held at Utumishi Girls Academy on a date to be communicated. 

KMTC noted that applicants who do not receive any communication should consider their requests unsuccessful due to a lack of available slots.

The recent wave of unrest has raised concern among stakeholders, even as authorities insist that the situation remains contained to a small number of affected schools.

Parents of 165 Ambira High students have moved to court challenging a directive requiring Grade 10 learners to pay Sh33,000 for strike-related damages, arguing the levy is unlawful and has denied learners access to education.

Bitok emphasised that learners should not be subjected to examinations when they are not adequately prepared, arguing that such pressure could worsen anxiety and contribute to disruptions in schools.

PS Bitok said unrest is being contained through enhanced dialogue with learners and a nationwide audit of safety standards.

In a statement to parents, Principal David Chomba assured them that all students remained safe under the school's care and that the fire had not affected learning facilities.

The petition comes amid growing concern over insecurity and unrest in secondary schools, with several institutions reporting fire incidents and abrupt closures.

Ahmed noted that Wajir County had already taken steps to support Madrasa education through county-led initiatives aimed at strengthening the sector and ensuring that learners enrolled in religious education programmes received support.

The ranking reflects the university’s performance in teaching, research and graduate outcomes, highlighting the strength of its academic community and growing competitiveness on the global stage.

During debate on a motion in the National Assembly, legislators questioned the safety of the current school system, linking the repeated incidents to overcrowding in schools and rising pressure on learning facilities.

KNEC also outlined key timelines for coursework, practicals and examinations across the three series, covering assessment submission, practical instruction collection, planning sessions and examination periods.

According to the Association’s proposals, as recommended by Dr Tuesday Gichuki, each dormitory must have at least two independent exits located apart from each other, with all exit doors opening outwards.

KRC said it responded to a fire at Tarakwo High School on Monday night, marking the fifth school fire incident since the tragic Utumishi Girls Academy fire that left 16 girls dead.

The National Assembly Education Committee noted that the allocation to student-centred areas such as capitation, loans and scholarships remains insufficient, despite being key to supporting learners across universities and TVET institutions.

According to the fund’s CEO, Geoffrey Monari, the proposal under discussion with the World Bank aims to securitise HELB’s repayments and attract investors to support predictable funding for students in universities and TVET institutions.

Education PS Julius Bitok says all boarding schools will undergo safety inspections within 10 days as investigations into the Utumishi Girls Academy dormitory fire that killed 16 students continue.

Ruto said the move will ensure every child has a recognised pathway to learning regardless of their background or circumstances.

President Ruto's remarks come after a series of fire incidents that have shocked the country in recent weeks, with several schools affected during the second term period of learning, raising concern over safety in boarding institutions.

The Architects Alliance (TAA) pointed to inadequate or inaccessible escape routes, poor ventilation strategies, overcrowding and unsafe electrical installations as some of the major concerns affecting school safety.

The Chief Justice said no parent should have to endure the pain of losing a child and urged the country to stand in solidarity with the affected families.

The report indicates the teachers failed to take appropriate action before the May 28 dormitory fire that claimed the lives of 16 students and left 79 others with injuries of varying degrees.