Parliament Rejects Machogu’s Ksh100 Million Teacher Training Request, Prioritizes Hiring Jobless Graduates
In opposition to Education Cabinet Secretary Ezekiel Machogu’s request for Ksh100 million to be allocated for the training of new teachers, Parliament instructed him to give priority to the employment of unemployed graduates.
Machogu was accompanied by Principal Secretaries Esther Muhoria (Technical, Vocational Education and Training – TVET) and Dr. Belio Kipsang (Basic Education) when she appeared before the Parliamentary Committee on Education on Monday.
The CS requested in his submission that the funds be given approval in accordance with the Supplementary Budget estimates of the Ministry for the fiscal year 2023/24.
PS Muhoria elaborated that the funds would be used to support the training and orientation of recently hired technical and vocational trainers. At the beginning of this year, the government hired approximately one thousand instructors for 144 TVETs.
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In accordance with President William Ruto’s pledge to alleviate the teacher deficit, the Public Service Commission reaffirmed its intention to hire those with degrees and diplomas likewise.
PS Muhoria asserts, nevertheless, that the teachers lack adequate professional teaching capabilities and must undergo retraining in order to boost their capabilities.
Julius Melly, a Tinderet Member of Parliament, led the committee that rejected her request in opposition.
MP Melly questioned the rationale behind investing significant funds in the retraining of tutors, suggesting that such resources could be more effectively allocated to enhancing educational facilities or other valuable endeavors.
He spoke about how many Kenyans are available who have degrees in a wide range of technical fields and postgraduate diplomas in education. He suggested that these people be considered for tutoring jobs so that the extra money needed to train new employees could be saved.
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In order to make up for the shortcomings and prevent the expenditure of a substantial amount of money on employing and retraining teachers, CS Machogu assured the members of parliament that his ministry would give preference to candidates with postgraduate education levels.
In the interim, CS Belio Kipsang, in charge of basic education, requested that the committee persuade the Treasury to increase the Ministry’s total budget by Ksh22 billion in order to improve the school capitation program.
Kipsang underscored the program’s critical role in supporting secondary institutions and warned that students would be deprived of financial resources.
To take decisive action, the MPs promised to investigate the matter and consult with their Treasury counterparts.
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Parliament Rejects Machogu’s Ksh100 Million Teacher Training Request, Prioritizes Hiring Jobless Graduates
