Why Jubilee may fail in education reforms

Pupils at Magarini's Migumoni Primary School in Kilifi County in 2018. The school lack desks. [File, Standard]

As President Uhuru Kenyatta’s term comes to an end, the government is yet to achieve meaningful reforms in education.

In its manifesto, the Jubilee administration had committed to work towards achieving a 100 per cent transition from primary to secondary school.

This was to be done by making both primary and secondary education free. Jubilee also promised to double the funds allocated to the Higher Education Loans Board in order to provide loans for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (Tvet).

Jubilee also promised to establish centres of excellence and innovation to tap into the talent pool of the youth.

Spur innovation The Kenya Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (Kaist) was to be established at Konza Technopolis.

It was meant to spur innovation in the country. All these plans are yet to be fulfilled, with Mr Kenyatta left with only 950 days in office.

Experts say it will be a tall order for Jubilee to realise these promises. Universities Academic Staff Union Secretary General Constantine Wasonga said it will be hard for the administration to achieve what it drafted in its manifesto.

“Higher education is in a shambles. It has many problems, it is underfunded, has poor infrastructure, Collective Bargaining Agreements are not honoured, there are no lecturers,” he said.

Knut Secretary General William Sossion said the Competency Based Curriculum is one thing the government needs to implement properly if it is to achieve its education agenda