A 42-member committee headed by President William Ruto has been tasked with reviewing the nation’s educational system and making recommendations, one of which is the best way to implement the competency-based curriculum (CBC).
President Ruto stated that the Working Party on Education Reform will function for a six-month period and be expected to present to him a progress report every two months from the date of their appointment in a Gazette Notice dated September 30, 2022.
The team, which will be led by Professor Raphael Munavu, includes Professor Collins Odete in addition to internationally renowned Kenyan educator Peter Tabichi, Mutheu Kasanga, who served on the CBC task group, and other members.
The task force, which has also been given seven secretaries, will examine the laws affecting the basic education subsector and offer suggestions for revisions to the laws in order to address “duplication, ambiguity, efficiency, restrictions, and improving links.”
In order to address concerns raised by teachers, parents, and other stakeholders in the education sector, R uto promised throughout the campaign that the Competency-Based Curriculum would need to be evaluated.
The team will still be required to research, evaluate, and recommend ways to “conceptualize and implement key tenets guiding the competency-based approach, including but not limited to value-based education, community service learning, parental empowerment and engagement” in relation to basic education.
Additionally, they will evaluate and develop a framework for evaluation and testing, quality control, teacher preparation and deployment, and all of the aforementioned.
Concerning tertiary and university education, the Working Party on Education Reform has also been tasked with conducting research. For TVET training and development, university education, research, and training, this included “to assess and recommend a governance and financial system.”
In order to harmonize and combine all tertiary education financial institutions, the team will also study and recommend laws to enable amalgamation of HELB, TVET, and University Funding Boards.
They will also be obliged to invite and take into account the opinions of public and sector stakeholders; convene the specified number of meetings at the specified locations and times.
The Ministry of Education will pay for the working party’s expenses.
The notification states that “The costs incurred by the Working Party shall be borne out of the voted budget of the Ministry of Education or such grants or donations as may be collected from Development Partners.”
The task force has been instructed to have a secretariat that will provide it with the necessary background information, prepare working party reports, and disseminate any information thought to be pertinent to the working party. This responsibility falls on the Ministry of Education.
The team members are listed below.
Professor Raphael Munavu, Chair
David A. (Prof.),
Abdilahi Halima Saado (Dr.),
Gitonga Ciriaka (Dr.),
Sincerity, Mbaabu
Edward Nzinga Katue (Dr.),
Vanessa Wahome (Ms.),
Juma Robert Wamalwa,
Chuck Kyalo Mutinda,
Peter Njenga Keiyoro (Prof.),
Secretaries
Elyas Addi (Dr.),
Patita Tingoi (Ms.),
David Njegere (Dr.),
Jackson Too (Prof.),
Reuben Nthamburi Mugwuku (Dr.),
Richard Miano,
Eunice Gachoka (Ms.)
