NAIROBI, Kenya – The National Council of Churches of Kenya (NCCK) has issued a stern call to the Ministry of Education to urgently address the countless challenges affecting the education sector.
The council decried the current state of confusion, inequality, and perceived injustices within the system, demanding immediate action to streamline operations and rectify issues.
Speaking at the council’s 65th general assembly in Limuru, Kiambu County, NCCK Secretary General Chris Kinyanjui criticized the government’s handling of the education sector, citing rampant mismanagement and inefficiency.
Kinyanjui pointed to the proliferation of scholarship programs managed by various agencies as a significant area of concern, accusing these programs of being avenues for corruption.
“We are convinced these scholarships are being used as avenues to steal money,” Kinyanjui stated, urging the government to consolidate the numerous bursaries and scholarship funds, currently estimated at Sh100 billion.
He argued that merging these funds would eliminate wastage and better serve students in need, thereby providing a more equitable distribution of educational resources.
Kinyanjui also took aim at the new university education funding model, describing it as unjust and skewed in favor of the wealthy.
He called for a thorough review of the model, advocating for inclusive public participation to develop a funding structure that benefits all deserving Kenyan students, regardless of their socioeconomic status.
“Let the ministry engage in comprehensive public participation to have a structure that benefits all qualified Kenyans,” he emphasized.
The council further expressed concerns about the implementation of the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC), noting that the transition to Grade 9 next year remains shrouded in uncertainty.
Kinyanjui questioned the preparedness of public primary schools, highlighting the lack of adequate facilities and the insufficient number of teachers required to maintain the standard teacher-pupil ratio.
“How many classrooms have been built to accommodate the learners? How many teachers have been employed to ensure all learners are within the standard teacher-pupil ratio?” he queried.
Additionally, the NCCK called for the immediate withdrawal of a government circular mandating the registration of all school-going children under the Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF).
The council leaders criticized this directive as a covert attempt to compel Kenyans into a scheme that lacks transparency and public understanding.
They stressed the importance of comprehensive public participation in shaping such policies, asserting that no government strategy, regardless of its intentions, should be imposed on Kenyans without proper consultation.
“Government strategies, however good, must not be forced on Kenyans,” the NCCK leaders declared, underscoring the need for dialogue and consensus in addressing the pressing issues facing the education sector.
The council decried the current state of confusion, inequality, and perceived injustices within the system, demanding immediate action to streamline operations and rectify issues.
Speaking at the council’s 65th general assembly in Limuru, Kiambu County, NCCK Secretary General Chris Kinyanjui criticized the government’s handling of the education sector, citing rampant mismanagement and inefficiency.
Kinyanjui pointed to the proliferation of scholarship programs managed by various agencies as a significant area of concern, accusing these programs of being avenues for corruption.
“We are convinced these scholarships are being used as avenues to steal money,” Kinyanjui stated, urging the government to consolidate the numerous bursaries and scholarship funds, currently estimated at Sh100 billion.
He argued that merging these funds would eliminate wastage and better serve students in need, thereby providing a more equitable distribution of educational resources.
Kinyanjui also took aim at the new university education funding model, describing it as unjust and skewed in favor of the wealthy.
He called for a thorough review of the model, advocating for inclusive public participation to develop a funding structure that benefits all deserving Kenyan students, regardless of their socioeconomic status.
“Let the ministry engage in comprehensive public participation to have a structure that benefits all qualified Kenyans,” he emphasized.
The council further expressed concerns about the implementation of the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC), noting that the transition to Grade 9 next year remains shrouded in uncertainty.
Kinyanjui questioned the preparedness of public primary schools, highlighting the lack of adequate facilities and the insufficient number of teachers required to maintain the standard teacher-pupil ratio.
“How many classrooms have been built to accommodate the learners? How many teachers have been employed to ensure all learners are within the standard teacher-pupil ratio?” he queried.
Additionally, the NCCK called for the immediate withdrawal of a government circular mandating the registration of all school-going children under the Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF).
The council leaders criticized this directive as a covert attempt to compel Kenyans into a scheme that lacks transparency and public understanding.
They stressed the importance of comprehensive public participation in shaping such policies, asserting that no government strategy, regardless of its intentions, should be imposed on Kenyans without proper consultation.
“Government strategies, however good, must not be forced on Kenyans,” the NCCK leaders declared, underscoring the need for dialogue and consensus in addressing the pressing issues facing the education sector.
