Government forms committee to implement education reforms

Education Cabinet Secretary Ezekiel Machogu has established four committees to supervise implementation of the education reforms.

The committees include steering, legal, sessional and departmental technical committees that will spearhead implementation of recommendations of the Presidential Working Party Reforms on Education Reforms (PWPER).

Already, some of the recommendations of the report have been rolled out including domiciling of Junior Secondary in existing primary schools, rolling out of a new funding model in higher education as well as recruitment of additional teachers by Teachers Service Commission (TSC).

Members of Parliament have faulted the implementation of the reform recommendations, warning they violate constitutional provisions.

The Members further want the implementation of the report by the Raphael Munavu-led team be suspended pending the National Assembly's nod.

Emuhaya MP Omboko Milemba argued that some of the recommendations infringed on the Teacher Service Commission's mandate, asking Speaker Moses Wetang'ula to issue directions on the subject.

The move sets up a potential confrontation between the MPs and President William Ruto, who has been keen to have the Munavu recommendations in place to guide the implementation of the competency-based curriculum.

Wetang'ula directed Majority Leader Kimani Ichung'wah to seek out a statement from Education Cabinet Secretary Ezekiel Machogu, to be tabled in the House in two weeks.

But Machogu noted that the Ministry had put in place structures to ensure effective implementation of the report.

''We have put in place structure and established committees to ensure effective and efficient implementation,'' Machogu said in a speech read on his behalf by PS Belio Kipsang.

He spoke while presenting the report to the Education Committee chaired by Tinderet MP Melly.

The steering committee, which will be chaired by the CS will provide overall oversight of the process, provide policy guidelines and directions in the implementation of the recommendations and mobilization of resources to support implementation of the proposals.

In addition, they will approve all policies and legislations before submission to the Cabinet, review progress reports of the technical committees as well as provide feedback on the implementation process.

The committee will draw its members from the Executive Office of the President, that of Prime Cabinet Secretary, Council of Governors, Office of Attorney General.

Also to be included in the committee will be representatives from the office of Permanent Secretaries for State Departments of Higher Education and Research as well as those in Basic Education and Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET).

Other members will be Chief Executive Officers of Semi-Autonomous government agencies of, the TSC, the National Treasury and members from the PWPER, Director General of Basic Education, Director University and that from Technical Education.

The Ministry will provide oversight roles, policy guidelines and directions in the implementation of recommendations.

The committee is mandated to approve all policies and legislatives before the cabinet, review progress reports of the technical committee and provide feedback on the implementation process.

The committee will also handle all the legal and policy documents governing education as per the report.

The Legal Committee which will have officers from the Office of the Deputy President, Office of the Prime Cabinet Secretary, Office of the Attorney General, MOE, TSC and semi-autonomous government agencies will handle all legal and policy documents governing education in Kenya as per the PWPER report.

The Sessional Paper Committee that will comprise chief economist and technical officers from respective state departments, to deliver sessional paper as well as the Departmental Technical Committee which will be chaired by respective PS's.

Machogu said, access to inclusive quality education at all levels of the tiers of education require efficiency and effectiveness of systems and structures.

''There is an urgent need to improve linkages between institutions working in education by demarcating the roles each plays and should play with uttermost clarity. We need to cut waste and improve the efficiency and effectiveness of our educational institutions,'' Machogu added.

However, he said this can be achieved with the support of other arms of the government adding that the success of Education Reforms will largely depend on appropriate changes in the laws governing education.

''While the government is committed to this goal, it requires the support of Parliament to streamline the legal framework governing education and to make adequate budget provisions to that effect,'' he stated.