CS Machogu asks councils to remain professional

Education CS, Ezekiel Machogu address the new Technical and Vocational Education and Training - Curriculum Development Assessment and Certification Council (TVET -CDACC) board in Nairobi on June 26, 2023. [Mike Kihaki, Standard]

Education Cabinet Secretary Ezekiel Machogu has urged councils steering institutions of higher education to stick to their statutory mandate.

The CS expressed disappointment at how some state officers exhibit a high level of handedness and irresponsibility.

Machogu spoke during inauguration of Technical and Vocational Education and Training - Curriculum Development Assessment and Certification Council (TVET -CDACC) new board.

Machogu blamed the immediate former office for filing to meet its expectations for the five years.

''As much as they achieved some of their activities they were mandated to perform, a number of issues that were set out for them were not achieved as such,'' he said.

The CS cautioned the new council members from taking the same path their predecessors walked warning that his ministry will not hesitate to take action against them.

''Kindly don't go the previous path. If you see the auditor's report, you will be disappointed. It is not of us thinking to make money but to offer service,'' said Machogu.

The CS accused the body for not releasing results for the examinations which had been done over the past three starting 2019.

''If there is something to call a tragedy is when young people can sit for exams and the results of such exams are not released,'' he stated.

TVET-CDACC core mandate is to design and develop curricula for the training institutions' examination, assessment and competence certification in order to revitalize the TVET sub-sector and develop an industrialized economy.

Machogu observed that the board caused a lot of suffering to the learners which forced the state to dissolve it, sending its officers to the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (KICD) and Kenya National Examination Council (KNEC).

The CS said the body was reconstituted due to the role it plays in designing and developing of the curriculum as well as certification and administration of the exams.

Permanent Secretary TVET Dr Esther Muoria challenged the new office to ensure the transition is seamless.

Dr Muoria noted that the council will oversee the national polytechnics in the assessment curricula and certification of learners.

''You are coming in at a time when we are recrafting the curriculum into skills through the national polytechnics. We are breaking the curriculum so that we have the actual skills to be trained at micro, medium and maximum levels,'' said Dr Muoria.

The new chairman Prof Ahmed Ferej promised to strive in ensuring that the organization's objectives are achieved.

''Since the government has invested heavily in the sector, there is a need to see transformation and value for money,'' said Prof Ferej.

According to the official, the only natural resource in the country is human capital which can only be useful when necessary competencies and skills are impacted in learners.