Govt to Fund all Levels of Education, Denies Privatization Plans of Public Universities & National Schools
Kenya’s Education Cabinet Secretary, Ezekiel Machogu, has denied reports that the government plans to privatise public universities.
There were reports alleging that Kenya Kwanza MPs planned to sponsor bills that would privatise all public universities and some national schools.
However, speaking in Mombasa, Machogu said the Kenya Kwanza administration funds and will continue funding all sectors of education from primary to tertiary.
Machogu stated that the government does not have any plans to privatise national schools or any schools for that matter. He said President William Ruto’s administration is planning to open another university called the University of Kenya, which will be a public university.
Machogu said the government is keen to make education affordable and that is why it has continued to issue capitation for students at different levels of education.
Primary school students get capitation of Sh1,420 per learner per year, while in Junior Secondary School, each learner gets Sh15,042 per year and in senior secondary, each learner gets Sh22,244 per year.
The Constitution states that education at the basic level in the country will be free and compulsory.
Machogu defended the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC), saying it is here to stay, and that President Ruto formed a team that went around the country to assess the CBC situation in the country and discovered that 84% of Kenyans wanted the CBC to continue.
The CS said they are carrying out a curriculum review whose report will be handed to President Ruto at the end of March and this will inform the way forward.
Machogu said they are carrying out discussions over whether to raise the cutoff point for joining university, but it is unlikely that the cutoff point will be raised.
He said whatever recommendation they get cannot be taken as policy as of now because the ministry is waiting for the recommendations which are going to emerge from the presidential working party because they have been given very clear mandate and terms of reference.
Machogu assured parents that the government will do all it takes to ensure that all children benefit from education. He said the government will engage with county commissioners, chiefs, and assistant chiefs to ensure 100% transition to Junior Secondary School in Kwale and Kilifi counties.
Govt to Fund all Levels of Education, Denies Privatization Plans of Public Universities & National Schools
