Tag: CS Machogu

  • Education Ministry mulls extending second term to cover lost time

    Education Ministry mulls extending second term to cover lost time

    Learners should brace for a longer second term following the delayed reopening of schools countrywide.

    The Ministry of Education Cabinet Secretary Ezekiel Machogu says the adjustment will affect the closing dates to cover the time lost. The changes to be announced later will not affect forthcoming national examinations.

    Speaking Thursday after touring several schools in Nairobi to assess the extent of damage to infrastructure ahead of the reopening of schools on Monday, the CS said that 95pc of the schools were ready to reopen.

    However, a few select schools adversely affected by the heavy rains and floods will resume later.

    He said the situation was under control noting that Regional Directors of Education have been providing regular updates on the status of the learning institutions across the 47 counties.

    The second term was extended by two weeks to May 13 due to heavy rains.

    Over 2000 schools had their infrastructure destroyed by the floods that have killed over 200 people and displaced thousands some of whom have sought refuge in learning institutions.

    Field education officers working in areas where schools are hosting displaced persons have been working closely with local administrators to identify alternative accommodations for the affected persons.

    The term was to run from April 29 to August 2, with a half-term break from June 20–23 and a three-week holiday from August 5–25.

  • Schools to receive full government capitation

    Schools to receive full government capitation

    Public Secondary Schools will now receive full government capitation of Ksh 22,244 up from Ksh 17,000.

    The good news was delivered by Education Cabinet Secretary Ezekiel Machogu who attributed the move to the country’s economic stability.

    “We had gone down to Ksh 17,000 per student per year because of the very tight fiscal space that we are operating in and the economic consequence”, said the Cabinet Secretary.

    Last year the Ministry of Education was grappling with a shortfall of Ksh22 billion as such could only disburse 68 per cent of the capitation per learner.

    He said with the Country’s economic status turnaround, the Ministry of Education will now be moving forward to disburse the recommended capitation to schools.

    Machogu made the remarks at the Kenya Institute of Special Education in Nairobi during the Stakeholders Forum on the Draft Sessional Paper and Bills to Implement the Recommendations of the Working Party.

    The Cabinet Secretary has at the same time dispelled rumours of conflict between the Ministry and the Teachers Service Commission.

    “Whatever documents that we have come up with here as well as those proposed by the Teachers Service Commission shows that there is no conflict because these documents will end up in one place”, he explained.

    He said only Parliament has the final say in the proposed changes in the education sector.

    “The final entity that will be able to say yes or no to any given provision or amendment as recommended is actually Parliament”, added the Cabinet Secretary.

    He said the reforms in the education sector seek to align the Country’s curriculum with the international standards.