Excitement and fear as Magoha heads to Education

Nominated Education CS George Magoha.

The nomination of Prof George Magoha to head the Ministry of Education has sent shockwaves across sector players, with notable excitement and fear in equal measure.

Known for his no-nonsense style of leadership, Magoha faces an uphill task of steering reforms in the delicate ministry.

Quality education controls, under-funding in schools and universities, delayed release of capitation money to schools and the perennial strikes by teachers, are just some of the issues Magoha will be confronted with once he assumes office.

The implementation of the new 2-6-6-3 Competency-Based Curriculum, ensuring 100 per cent transition and managing challenges of congestion in schools and the failed grip of middle-level training, will also pile up his in-tray.

Teachers’ unions yesterday welcomed Magoha, but warned that they will oppose him if he initiates unpopular policies.

The Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (Kuppet) secretary general Akelo Misori welcomed Magohawith a caution: “…but he must bring sanity in policy formulations. We will not accept knee-jerk policies as has been the case,” warned Misori. He said Kuppet expects Magoha to respect education stakeholders.

Education cartels

“We shall only support him if he maintains educationstandards. If he compromises the quality, we shall resist. We don’t want separate policy directions,” said Misori.

The Kenya National Union of Teachers (Knut) secretary general Wilson Sossion said Magoha must tackle educationcartels who are ripping off the sector.

“He is not new to the sector. He has been at the university and the Kenya National Examinations Council (Knec). He must deliver through constructive consultation in the spirit of the Constitution,” said Sossion.

He said the union will support his leadership as long as it does not trample on labour rights.

Born in 1952, in the small Marenyo village in Siaya County, Magoha beat all odds to head the University of Nairobi, a position that raised his profile in the education sector.

During his tenure as the university’s vice-chancellor, Magohais credited with effective management of students unrest. In his autobiography titled, Tower of Transformational Leadership, the professor of urological and transplant surgery, underscores discipline and open-door policy as pillars of his leadership style.

Respected as one of Kenya’s most celebrated scholars and academicians, Magoha’s move to the ministry has shaken some sector players.

Vice chancellors who spoke to the Saturday Standard said they are headed for “hard, abrasive and reforms” times, as Prof Magoha understands the university sector.

“We know he is a firm leader, so there are fears, but he can only do what he has to do within the law,” said one of the VCs.

Prof Magoha, having served as a VC at University of Nairobi, understands the dynamics of higher education.

Former Education Cabinet secretary Fred Matiang’i appointed him, among a team of experts in the Special Universities Advisory Committee, that advised on quality university education in the country.

The report of the team saw closure of several university campuses and a total ban on expansionist tendencies of universities.

He now comes to steer universities that are broke, bloated with staff, offering numerous unapproved programmes, with some deep in financial crisis.

VCs last week proposed fee increment to supplement the meagre government capitation.

But the ministry proposed far-reaching reforms that include staff cuts and mounting useful programmes.

Magoha also comes aboard as universities are embroiled in a fight with the regulator – Commission for University Education (CUE) - over accreditation of programmes. Universities have been on the spot for mounting many programmes as a way of minting money to bridge the financial gap. Overall, Magoha is expected to implement the many stalled university reforms, including quality audits conducted by CUE that recommended, among other issues, enhanced security in the institutions.

On basic education, Magoha comes to the ministry at a time when the implementation of the new curriculum is starting to pick up with, a shoestring budget.