As CS Supports Education Reform, TSC Wants to Retain Powers
As CS Supports Education Reform, TSC Wants to Retain Powers
Education Cabinet Secretary Ezekiel Machogu has found himself at the center of this storm, defending the reforms and emphasizing their importance. The President William Ruto’s proposed changes to education policies and the authority of the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) are at the center of the controversy.
The potential weakening of TSC’s authority is a major source of dispute. The CEO of the Kenya Women Teachers Association (Kewota), Benta Opande, expressed support for the commission and emphasized its contribution to the achievement of gender equality in the workplace, a milestone she says shouldn’t be undercut. Kewota and the Kenya Union of Special Needs Education Teachers expressed concerns that diminishing TSC’s powers could negatively impact the teaching profession.
Ezekiel Machogu, the education secretary, vehemently supported the reforms and emphasized their importance on the other side of the argument. Before complete adoption, he ensured that the proposals will be aligned with the appropriate legal adjustments. This procedure is being managed by an implementation committee, which is also drafting proposed legislation for Parliament.Pre-service teacher entry standards are one contentious topic.
According to Machogu, assigning a mean Grade of C(Plain) as the admission mark was intended to boost the number of trainees, and it had a considerable impact. The comprehensive education system, which combines nursery, primary, and junior schools, is another divisive idea. Although others questioned whether it was constitutional, Machogu vowed to prepare the appropriate legal changes to allay these objections.
Reducing the number of subjects taught in schools also faced resistance, but Machogu defended it, citing concerns about curriculum overload.The KCSE mean score will now be based on five extra top-performing subjects in addition to the two required subjects (Mathematics and one language) as part of the school reforms.Machogu made the case that similar grade adjustments had already happened, citing the switch from 10 to 7 subjects under the 8-4-4 system.
In conclusion, Kenya’s education reforms are a difficult undertaking that aims to strike a balance between advancement and concerns from diverse stakeholders. The government, under the direction of Education CS Machogu, is dedicated to tackling these issues and improving Kenya’s educational system for the benefit of students and instructors, despite the fact that there are divergent views on the planned reforms.
