CS Fred Matiang’i’s ‘Ten Commandments’ to streamline troubled sector

• Kenya National Examination Council (Knec) board’s credibility must be beyond reproach. Education Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i dissolved Knec board of directors. He further pushed for prosecutions of senior management officials involved in exam malpractices.

• Fight exam cheating permanently. Placing higher responsibility on head teachers, fresh vetting of invigilators and supervisors and a ban on school visits are new measures aimed at curbing exam cheating. Starting this year, all school heads will be in charge of their examination centres and shall be held responsible for the cheating cases reported in their institutions.

• Eliminate graft in distribution of books to schools. The CS said the government will take over procurement of books for public schools. The planned change of books supply chain means that public schools administrators effectively lose the right to purchase books. The state allocates approximately Sh18 billion for purchase of books.

• No debate on school ranking ban. Despite pressure from sections of stakeholders in the education sector over the government’s decision to ban school ranking, Dr Matiang’i refused to open debate on the subject.

• No non-academic activities during third term. To limit contact between students and outsiders, and reduce disturbances during examination period, the CS banned all non-academic activities during third term. The ban extends to visiting and prayer meetings organised prior to the exams.

• Observe school fees guidelines at all times. Matiang’i similarly refused to review the government issued guidelines on schools fees. On March 10th, 2015, the Government gazetted fees chargeable in schools with a clear provision that any variations shall be done by the CS whenever necessary through the Government Gazette. This meant that fees to be levied in schools remain as gazetted in all vote heads in line with the Gazette Notice No. 1555 of March 2015. Previously, different schools would charge differently for different vote heads.

• All school heads must stay within the school compound at all times. The government has also directed all boarding administrators and other key administrative staff to be living in their school compounds. The government further said it will put in place a policy that will ensure teachers and school managers don’t work in their home areas.

• No more satellite campuses. On March 9th, the CS suspended the establishment of new satellite campuses until further notice. He instructed the Commission for University Education not to approve any further establishment of campuses.

• No more loans to Universities. Matiang’i has also frozen loan facilities to all public universities until further notice. He accused management of public universities of lowering quality of education by doing heavy borrowing to just put up satellite campuses and in the process misappropriate funds.

• All Mpesa payments must be receipted and accounted for at all times. The CS has directed that receipts must be issued against all payments received by schools.