Category: Study

The Teacher Service Commission (TSC) is engaging the government on modalities of recruiting into permanent terms over 20,000 teachers who have been working as interns to bridge the existing shortage.

According to TSC Director of Quality Assurance Dr Reuben Nthamburi, the recruitment once finalised through adequate government funding will be a huge boost in addressing the teacher shortage that has affected the new Junior Secondary Schools.

Dr Nthamburi lauded the government’s commitment towards enhancing quality education after it recruited 56,000 teachers last year noting that the employment of another 20,000 will bridge the teacher shortage that stands at 116,000.

The Director at the same time added that TSC is in the process of promoting 35,000 teachers who have for years stagnated at job groups which he said is being undertaken transparently.

In addition, he said they are engaging the Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) officials to resolve any issues after the latter queried the promotion process.

Dr Nthamburi was speaking in Naivasha during a consultative meeting to enhance the uptake of Science, Mathematics and Technology (STEM) in schools through the Centre for Mathematics, Science and Technology Education in Africa [CEMESTEA].

The Director emphasised that the commission is keen to support the uptake of STEM subjects by learners to drive creativity, and innovation much needed to support the country’s industrialisation agenda.

‘TSC will support the recommendations of ensuring 60 per cent of learners undertake STEM subjects, 15 per cent in sports and Arts and 25 per cent in social sciences to strike a balance,’ said Dr Nthamburi.

Consequently, the TSC will also support CEMESTEA’s progressive actions by ensuring adequate funding to ensure continuous teacher training through professional development programmes that will be cascaded to counties.

On her part, CEMESTEA CEO Jecinta Akatsa said already in partnership with the Education Ministry, TSC and other sector players have rolled out teacher traini
ng to enhance their capacity and stimulate creativity and innovation among learners.

Akatsa said they have rolled out coding training in five counties where the government has provided modern devices needed, an initiative which will guide full implementation to other schools.

To stimulate creativity in learners, Akatsa said they have rolled out school competitions where students can showcase their innovativeness and creative ideas in solving today’s challenges and easing operations.

‘CEMESTEA will continue to capacity-build science-oriented teachers who will be key to cultivating early drive among students to immerse themselves in STEM subjects,’ said Akatsa.

Source: Kenya News Agency

Over seven thousand students from Awendo constituency Migori County have received bursaries from the National Government-Constituency Development Funds (NG-CDF).

Speaking during the issuance of the bursary worth Sh 50.5 million to over seven thousand needy students, Awendo Member of Parliament Walter Owino said that the bursary will ensure the needy students get a chance to advance their education careers.

Owino however, pointed out that although the system to award bursaries from the NG-CDF has over time helped needy students’ access education, he was of the opinion that the surest way to help the nation’s education system was to make education free.

‘We had more than eleven thousand applicants for the bursary but our NG-CDF could only cater for the seven thousand. The government needs to prioritise free education to give each child in Kenya a chance to better their education,’ lamented Owino.

The legislature disclosed that they will be lobbying the government to fully take care of the entire education c
ost to help keep needy children in school.

Simeon Makawa, a parent from Awendo Sub County explained that the cost of education for orphans, needy and vulnerable children can become unbearable if they do not get the bursaries.

He called on well-wishers to help support the less privileged children to make society a better place.

Source: Kenya News Agency

Over seven thousand students from Awendo constituency Migori County have received bursaries from the National Government-Constituency Development Funds (NG-CDF).

Speaking during the issuance of the bursary worth Sh 50.5 million to over seven thousand needy students, Awendo Member of Parliament Walter Owino said that the bursary will ensure the needy students get a chance to advance their education careers.

Owino however, pointed out that although the system to award bursaries from the NG-CDF has over time helped needy students’ access education, he was of the opinion that the surest way to help the nation’s education system was to make education free.

‘We had more than eleven thousand applicants for the bursary but our NG-CDF could only cater for the seven thousand. The government needs to prioritise free education to give each child in Kenya a chance to better their education,’ lamented Owino.

The legislature disclosed that they will be lobbying the government to fully take care of the entire education c
ost to help keep needy children in school.

Simeon Makawa, a parent from Awendo Sub County explained that the cost of education for orphans, needy and vulnerable children can become unbearable if they do not get the bursaries.

He called on well-wishers to help support the less privileged children to make society a better place.

Source: Kenya News Agency

A total of 557 cases of child abuse have been reported in the Oshikoto Region between 01 January to 18 March 2024.

This was confirmed by the Head of the Gender Equality, Poverty Eradication and Social Welfare Division at the Oshikoto Regional Council, Petrus Kuutondokwa, on Tuesday during the Child Care Protection Forum meeting held at Omuthiya.

He said the reported abuse include sexual, physical, emotional abuse and neglect.

The Oshikoto Regional Council chairperson, Samuel Shivute has encouraged residents of Oshikoto to start reporting violence against children and other pressing issues committed against them to relevant authorities.

He said that children should be protected against any forms of harm, exploitation and discrimination.

‘We also have alcohol and drug abuse by children and a high rate of children committing crimes in the region,’ said Shivute, further lamenting a high prevalence of teenage pregnancies in the region.

The Namibian Police Force representative at the meeting, Melchizedek Hang
o, urged the nation to go to the police station or the hospital to formalise and tackle the issue of child abuse.

‘The members of the public should call any member of the gender-based violence police to meet in person because police intervention can be your priority because it is a lifesaving measure,’ said Hango.

Hango further added that they can help the survivors to get connected to other resources such as legal services, psychologists and shelters, among others.

The objective of the forum was to strengthen coordination amongst the stakeholders regarding child care and protection issues, as well as raise awareness regarding child welfare services.

Source: The Namibia Press Agency

Head of Public Service Felix Koskei has urged parents from Nandi County to invest in girl child education for better future and prosperity

Koskei who was speaking at Kapsbet Girls High School during a thanksgiving day stressed that by investing in the girl child the entire community and society was sowing a future of progress for many generations

‘We want to celebrate girls and invest more in their wellbeing and education so that tomorrow they will lead this Country with a lot of knowledge. The surest child who can take good care of their parents and build a prosperous and peaceful society is the girl child.. Boy child disappear along the way but girl child always keep in touch,’ he said

Koskei noted that a girls’ education has direct impact on Country’s social, economic and practical wellbeing adding that an educated mother is very productive in the society.

He advised parents to support their children in school in order for them to excel, saying failure to follow up on academic performance makes childre
n relax resulting in poor performance.

‘The say education is an equalizer and best investment a parent can give to a child. Let us secure the future of our children by giving them the best education and work hand in hand with teachers to ensure they excel,’ he said

Koskei who was accompanied by Basic Education Principal Secretary Dr.Belio Kipsang assured the school administration of Government’s support to improve infrastructure and mentor girls for better results.

Dr.Kipsang congratulated the school for the better performance and learning clean without involving in academic doping.

He said educated girls narrow the gender pay gap, boost workforce participation, and promote self-sufficiency to foster an inclusive society with equal opportunities for all to thrive.

‘When we invest in you, we invest in the future and any good person will invest in future because we want to anchor this Country well. And you are the people who will take this Country to the next level. We shall continue praying for you as par
ents to ensure you excel well,’ he said

Nandi Governor Stephen Sang reaffirmed his steadfast commitment to providing comprehensive support to all educational institutions within the county to enable the schools thrive and succeed academically.

Education stakeholders present noted that investing in girl’s education transforms communities, countries and the entire world adding that girls who receive an education are less likely to marry young and more likely to lead healthy and productive lives.

Source: Kenya News Agency

The international community is aware of Kenya’s significant education reforms, which are gaining support for their implementation.

The World Bank has extended a six years intervention that was to end in December 2023 for an additional year. The Kenya Secondary Education Quality Improvement Project (SEQIP) focuses on the most educationally and economically disadvantaged areas as well as the poorest and most vulnerable children.

The Sh20 Billion project aimed to help the country overcome obstacles in accessing education. The Kenya Country Partnership Strategy focuses on enhancing human capital through education and training.

Elijah Mungai, the projects director at the Ministry of Education, emphasized the importance of providing quality secondary education to enhance the skills of the working population.

The Kenyan Constitution mandates the government to offer free, high-quality Basic Education. The government aims to enhance Basic Education for Sustainable Development by fostering critical thinking, commun
ication, problem-solving, digital literacy, and 21st-century competencies among students.

Speaking in her office, SEQIP project coordinator Jane Mbugua said the project is committed to enhancing transition from primary to secondary education along with retaining students in school up to the age of 18.

Word Bank Africa’s development strategy aims to accelerate the demographic transition and maximize the demographic dividend by enabling more girls in impoverished regions to attend secondary school.

The project addresses challenges such as high school dropout rates in grade seven and eight, low enrollment, particularly among girls, and low transition from primary to secondary school. Ms Mbugua stated that the organization is enhancing the quality and relevance of education in 135 sub-counties in vulnerable and marginalized areas.

The Kenya Vision 2030 envisages a reduction of Illiteracy, increased individual well-being brought about by an education, training, and research that is inclusive and of high qualit
y. The SEQIP project is in line with the World Bank’s global objectives of reducing extreme poverty and promoting sustainable shared prosperity.

The National Education Sector Plan 2018 prioritizes Quality Basic Education as the primary sustainable goal, requiring governments to ensure inclusive and equitable education and lifelong learning opportunities.

Source: Kenya News Agency

Mvita Sub-County Deputy County Commissioner (DCC) Ronald Mwiwawi has beseeched parents not to abandon their parental responsibility lest they destroy their children’s lives.

Speaking at the Ronald Ngala School ground when Mvita MP Mohamed Machele issued cheques amounting to K Sh44 million for the education at least 5000 needy students, The DCC said indiscipline among students was worrying and asked parent to nip the vice before it went out of hand.

He however was optimistic that rate of juvenile-related crimes had gone down in the years 2021 and 2022 as evidenced by the improvement of KCSE performance in last year’s results but challenged parents not to let their guard..

‘This year, new problems has emerged because we accept learners from other constituencies, especially Likoni and Kisauni where moral decency was rife,’ he said, promising to visit Serani, Sacred Heart, and Mvita Boys Secondary schools to read the riot act on learners with indiscipline cases.

At the Likoni crossing channel, he stated, ther
e is a tendency by learners after school to fight without a valid reason ditto at Nyali Bridge. He laid the blame on parents for their children’s behaviours.

The DCC revealed that learners want to turn the Mama Ngina Waterfront into a bawdy house. He noted that both boys and girls carry home clothes in their school bags and later loiter at the waterfront at 8 PM

He urged parents to ensure their children arrive early unless they have remedial classes after discussion with teachers. ‘If a child left school at 5 PM what is he doing at Mama Ngina,’ he asked.

He said some students are bhang addicts in the purview of their parents. ‘As a parent, you will suffer the consequences. Instead of raising criminals, I urge you to raise morally upright children who will assist us in future.’

The DCC calls for collaboration between parents and the security apparatus to tame the unbecoming behaviours. Parents were challenged to monitor their children’s behaviours to improve school performance.

Mvita MP Mohamed Machele ab
solved the constituency children from blame saying 40 per cent of students in the constituency schools are from the neighbouring constituencies and the fist fights are a result of grudges from their localities.

‘We are being branded as criminals yet it is not our children,’ he said.

Machele said plans are at an advanced stage to turn Mama Ngina Secondary School which was moved to Shimo la Tewa into a TVET to impart skills to 70 per cent of form four leavers from the constituency who fail to attain University minimum entry grade.

The legislator challenged parents to motivate their children to work hard in their academics. He further told parents to be responsible despite the tough economic time and not to over-depend on politicians for all their children’s needs like school fare and uniforms.

‘Let carry our responsibilities, when you want a politician from his meagre salary to do all the responsibility it will force him to be corrupt to satisfy the constituents’ demands,’ he said.

Source: Kenya News Agen
cy