Education CS Julius Ogamba has differed with sentiments by Catholic bishops that the country’s education sector is in crisis as leaders ravel themselves in “selfish agenda, lies, unkept promises and misplaced priorities”.
In a strongly-worded statement on Thursday, the clerics accused the government of corruption, self-centeredness, over-taxation of Kenyans, rights violation and “culture of lies” at the expense of fulfilling its pledges to Kenyans.
They took issue with the challenging transition from NHIF to Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF), delayed reconstitution of the electoral body, political wrangling and a shaky education system they said was crumbling.
“We have matters of national concern, such as the crumbling CBC education system, health care services, reconstitution of the IEBC, a huge block of educated but unemployed youth and fighting the monster of corruption among others, that are surely top priorities,” the clergy said.
Their statement attracted responses from different state functionaries including MPs who they accused of corruption, the police for abductions and the Health Ministry for non-remittance of NHIF deductions to facilities.
In his response, CS Ogamba said the Education sector; particularly the Competency-Based Curriculum and higher education funding structures is working perfectly.
He said as things stand, the transition of the first cohort of the CBC class has been successful and the learners are presently preparing for Grade 9, the final year of Junior School.
Ogamba said the government is providing Sh15,042 capitation per child and has been distributing core textbooks at the ratio of one book per leaner all through from Grades 7 and 8 and book distribution for Grade 9 is currently ongoing.
“In terms of infrastructure, the construction of the 16,000 classrooms required for Grade 9 is at an advanced stage. The government has allocated a total of Sh17.6 billion for the completion of these classrooms by December 2024,” Ogamba said.
Further, the CS said the government has employed 56,950 teachers for Junior School while 46,000 intern teachers will be employed on permanent and pensionable terms by January 2025 and a further 20,000 teachers are being recruited and will be in place by January, 2025.
“The government has, therefore, taken proactive measures and invested heavily to ensure that the noble objectives of CBC are achieved through seamless implementation. This, therefore, can hardly be described as crumbling,” Ogamba said.
On the higher education loan scheme, the CS said the government has
disbursed more than Sh41 billion to universities in loans and scholarships to
the two cohorts of students since 2023 under the student-centred funding model.
He added that the new funding model has eased the financial burden on universities, which had been indebted to the tune of Sh70 billion, with many technically insolvent.
“To ensure the model is improved further, President William Ruto has appointed a National Working Committee to collate views from the public to refine the model. We request our Catholic clergy not to condemn a whole education system that has over 11 million learners,” the CS said.
