Education Challenges Under President Ruto’s Administration.
Two years into President William Ruto’s tenure, the education sector has faced several challenges, epitomized by the ongoing debate over the new university funding model. The adoption of this model has led to student protests and public criticism.
Opposition to University Funding Model
The opposition has now brought university staff into the fray, as they have openly criticized the new student financing system.
Despite President Ruto’s assertion that the model would solve the university funding crisis, critics argue it was imposed with little to no consultation, disregarding the recommendations of the Presidential Working Party on Education Reforms.
This task force, which was established to guide reforms in the education sector under Ruto’s government, released its report on August 1 of the previous year, providing a roadmap for education reform.
However, detractors claim that the student funding model, based on scholarships and loans, was not part of the task force’s proposals, raising questions about its legitimacy.
Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC) Transition Challenges
Another significant challenge for the Kenya Kwanza government is managing the transition of the first Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC) cohort, which will advance to Grade 9 in January.
Junior high schools, currently located in primary schools with eight grades, will require an additional class to accommodate Grade 9 students.
The government is in a race against time, with just three months left to build 16,000 classrooms necessary for this transition. So far, only 3,500 classrooms have been completed, leaving 12,500 pending.
This delay could lead to overcrowding in schools as they struggle to make space for the extra class.
Teachers’ Strikes and Employment Issues
The past two years have also seen the resurgence of teachers’ strikes after a period of stability. In August, intern teachers protested, demanding their contracts be upgraded from intern status to permanent and pensionable terms.
Despite the Kenya Kwanza government’s success in employing a record 46,000 teachers in its first year, the intern teachers only resumed work after the government promised to confirm them by January.
This was followed by a week-long strike by secondary school teachers on August 26, who were demanding new salary structures, resolution of issues around third-party deductions, and better medical services.
Additionally, public university lecturers threatened to strike on August 18 due to delays in negotiating a new pay deal, a move that could disrupt learning in universities after a four-year period of stability.
Scrapping of Edu-Afya Medical Cover
The Kenya Kwanza government’s decision to eliminate the Edu-Afya secondary school medical cover, which was previously provided under the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF), has also met with resistance.
The government plans to enroll students as dependents under the new Social Health Authority, replacing NHIF.
Parents are hesitant to register their children under this new plan, fearing it is a tactic to push them into the Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF), which aims to offer broader benefits to vulnerable groups, such as access to screening, dialysis, and kidney transplants.
Education Funding Reforms: Delays and Shortfalls
Two years into Ruto’s administration, reforms proposed by the Presidential Working Party on Education, particularly regarding school funding, have been inconsistently implemented.
Stakeholders have voiced concerns over the delayed execution of the ambitious school funding review plan, with many institutions still grappling with underfunding.
The original proposal recommended increasing primary school capitation from Sh1,420 per learner to Sh2,238, representing an Sh818 increase.
Junior secondary learners were to receive Sh15,043, while senior secondary students would get Sh22,527 per year. Additionally, schools were expected to receive a flat-rate fund for operational costs, referred to as the minimum essential package.
The essential package was to be distributed as follows:
- Pre-primary: Sh70,200
- Primary education: Sh536,880
- Junior school: Sh1,632,120
- Senior school: Sh1,890,000
- Special needs education: Sh2,060,940
A comprehensive school would thus receive Sh2,239,200 as the minimum essential package. However, aside from junior school capitation, which was a new introduction under Ruto’s administration, these funding proposals have yet to be fully implemented.
Teacher Training and Employment Promises
The Kenya Kwanza government also pledged to fund in-service teacher training initiated by the state and to close the teacher shortage gap of 116,000 within two financial years.
ALSO READ: Education CS Ogamba Calls for Negotiations Ahead of Lecturer Strike
The Teachers Service Commission has announced plans to hire 20,000 new interns, bringing the total number of teachers employed under Ruto’s administration to 76,000.
In summary, the first two years of Ruto’s government have seen a mixed bag of challenges and progress in the education sector, with significant issues still unresolved.
Education Challenges Under President Ruto’s Administration.
