Kaimenyi has improved education sector

As former Education Cabinet Secretary Jacob Kaimenyi leaves Jogoo House, the question on the lips of many people is whether he has left a legacy worth celebrating.

Prof Kaimenyi came in at a critical stage when new education regulations had been proposed.

That meant all necessary laws and policies were in place but needed execution. This, therefore, called for ability to implement these policies, most of which were aimed at streamlining the education sector.

It was expected that whoever implemented these policies would likely face resistance from people with vested interests who had infiltrated our education system and made it a preserve of the few.

Kaimenyi implemented most policy proposals.

Among the policies that Kaimenyi enforced included the banning of ranking in schools and among candidates. His decision was informed by the fact that this practice had been turned into beauty pageant by middle-class parents to celebrate the “success” of their children at the expense of those from poor backgrounds.

It has been argued that examination and ranking had relegated a majority of parents and students to being spectators as the minority basked in limelight.

Kaimenyi also enforced a policy on secondary schools admission which enabled pupils from marginalised areas but with lower grades to get admission to elite national schools.

Students from poor backgrounds had a history of exclusion from well-resourced public schools .There place was in mixed secondary schools previously known as harambee schools. This is the situation Prof Kaimenyi sought to change.

Other policies included guidelines on school fees charged by secondary schools, banning of holiday tuition and enforcement of friendly learning and teaching hours protecting parents from exploitation.

Kenya needs a CS with the interest of students, parents and teachers at heart.