By Augustine Oduor
A wave of reforms set to sweep across the education sector in the next few years will radically change the way the country learns, stakeholders say.
Kenyans can expect free pre-primary learning, compulsory basic education, and a madrassa system working inside formal education structures.
Students will also have a bigger say in how schools are run through representation on advisory councils or committees.
Under the new proposals, no child will be sent away from school for any reason. This is intended to ensure all Kenyans have access to basic education.
Headteachers will be required to investigate every child’s absence from school and take measures to get them back into class. These may include issuing warning letters and submitting reports on truants (absent children) to county education boards. Currently, no formal inquiries are made on whereabouts of children who drop out of school. This has led to low completion and transition rates.
But once the proposed Education Bill is passed, parents who fail to enroll their children in school face a five-year jail term or a fine of Sh5 million.
The changes moved even closer to reality last week when over 40 MPs met in Naivasha in a historic show of support for them. The MPs pledged to lobby colleagues to pass the reform proposals.
New order
Education minister Mutula Kilonzo said the proposed changes are meant to align key sector documents to the Constitution and Vision 2030.
To ensure learners get a proper foundation, all schools will have nursery schools complete with teachers employed by Teachers Service Commission.
“The Government will ensure all primary schools have pre-primary units,” said Education PS George Godia.
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