Administrators get powers to monitor education standards

Administrators get powers to monitor education standards

Administrators get powers to monitor education standards

The added responsibility of making sure that education standards are promoted within their respective jurisdictions will fall to the National Government Administrative Officers (NGAOs) across the nation.

According to Interior Principal Secretary Raymond Omollo, the increased role of administrators will ensure that all students have equal chances and that educational inequalities are closed, resulting in a significant increase in the nation’s literacy rates.

The PS observed that the administrators have been positioned by the government as key players in bringing about change in Kenya’s educational system.

“Our officers took the lead in making sure that a 100% transfer was accomplished last year. Approximately 1.2 million pupils enrolled in junior secondary schools, with certain areas surpassing the goal, according to Dr. Omollo.

To make sure schools are properly equipped, NGAOs will collaborate with a range of partners, including non-governmental organizations and private contributors.

They will also oversee feeding programmes, which are vital in keeping children, especially those from impoverished backgrounds, in school.

During the 2023 national examinations, the government deployed more than 600 administrators alongside 16,056 police officers across all examination centres.

Speaking in Bungoma while assessing the county’s preparations for hosting Madaraka Day celebrations this year, Omollo stated that 96.8% of students enrolled in school had made the transition to high school.

This opens doors for students to pursue further education, such as university study and vocational and technical training.

According to a 2022 World Bank report, Kenya’s literacy rate among people aged upto 15 years is at an impressive high of 82.88 percent.

“The role of NGAO officers in promoting education is pivotal. They are the true heroes on the ground, driving change and ensuring that no child is left behind in the quest for knowledge,” Omollo stated.

“The ministry appreciates the work done by NGAOs in tracing candidates throughout the year to ensure compliance with the government’s 100 percent school transition policy,” he added.

Beyond advocacy and enforcement of government policies, NGAO officers play a crucial role in facilitating resources.

“Through the tireless efforts of our NGAOs, we are bridging the educational divide and bringing learning opportunities to the most remote corners of Kenya,” noted the PS. He reiterated that in many remote areas, schools suffer from a lack of basic supplies—textbooks, stationery, and even desks. 

In particular, during national tests, Dr. Omollo praised the administrators for helping young girls who are victims of early pregnancy.

Despite the government’s strict efforts to combat the vice, hundreds of girls still take exams while pregnant every year, the PS lamented.

In June 2023, statistics from Bungoma County Referral Hospital revealed that 26,149 young girls had become pregnant in just 24 months.