Author: Hezron Rooy

Metropolitan Sacco Heist: Decade-Long Theft of Teachers’ Hard-Earned Savings. The Metropolitan National Sacco has been embroiled in controversy, making headlines for years due to allegations of fraudulent dealings that led to the loss of billions. The ongoing investigation into former top management has exposed a financial scandal that left members suffering. Among the affected are retirees who once trusted the Sacco as a secure place for their lifetime savings. Now, an interim committee appointed by the Sacco Societies Regulatory Authority (SASRA) is set to manage the Sacco for three years in a bid to stabilize operations and recover the lost…

Federation Push for Karate to Become Compulsory Subject in Schools and Disciplined Forces. The Kenya Karate Federation is advocating for karate to be incorporated as a compulsory subject within the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC) in schools, emphasizing its value as a self-defense skill. Federation President Eng. Richard Minga underscored the benefits of learning karate from a young age, which include boosting children’s physical fitness, fostering discipline and self-control, and combating lifestyle-related issues such as childhood obesity. Minga, speaking at an event in Thika aimed at organizing the Commonwealth Karate Championship scheduled for November 28 to December 1, 2024, in South Africa,…

KNUT Calls for Enhanced Security for Teachers Ahead of National Exams. The Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) has urged the government to make the safety of teachers a priority, especially as the national exam season approaches. Malel Langat, the First National Vice Chairman of KNUT, highlighted the importance of implementing necessary measures to ensure that examinations proceed smoothly and without interruptions. He emphasized the significance of safeguarding teachers, particularly in areas prone to insecurity, such as Lamu, Boni Forest, and the bandit-prone regions of the Rift Valley. Langat stressed the need for the government to enhance security measures in…

KNUT Demands Timely Payment and Improved Compensation for KNEC Contracted Professionals. The Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) has urged the Kenya National Examination Council (KNEC) to promptly compensate all contracted professionals involved in the country’s examination process. This includes teachers, center managers, invigilators, supervisors, markers, and security personnel. The union emphasized the need for immediate payment once the examination tasks are completed, along with a review to increase the compensation package. Malel Lang’at, the union’s first National Vice Chairman, highlighted the demoralizing impact of delayed payments on the professionals contracted by KNEC. He expressed these concerns after attending the…

Food for Education (F4E) Expands to Kakamega, Providing Meals for 14,000 Students. Food for Education (F4E) has launched a kitchen in Kakamega, feeding more than 14,000 children in 28 public primary schools. Micheal Njiru, the Area Lead for Kisumu and Kakamega, mentioned that Kakamega is now the 10th county where F4E operates, alongside Kiambu, Murang’a, Nyeri, Uasin-Gishu, Nairobi, Kisumu, Kajiado, Machakos, and Mombasa. F4E currently provides meals to 450,000 children daily across 1,263 primary schools in Kenya. Njiru shared the organisation’s goal to expand their kitchen network and serve at least 1 million public primary school children by 2027, aiming…

Ruto: Government to Build 5,000 Classrooms in Nairobi. President William Ruto has revealed his administration’s plans to construct 5,000 additional classrooms in Nairobi to ensure children remain in school. Addressing the congregation at AIC Church Milimani in Nairobi on Sunday, he pointed out the worrying increase in the number of children staying out of school, emphasizing the urgent need to address this issue. Ruto mentioned that he will soon meet with Nairobi’s County leadership to begin implementing this ambitious project. He stressed the seriousness of the situation, highlighting that around 10,000 children in Nairobi are not attending school. Ruto also…

TSC Sub-County Decry Compressed Deadlines in Teacher Recruitment Process: Dates And Schedules. Sub-County Directors (SCDs) working under the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) are struggling to keep up with tight deadlines in the ongoing teacher recruitment drive. The TSC has set an ambitious timeframe for hiring 46,000 teachers across the country, requiring the SCDs to complete the process within just one week, from October 11 to October 17, 2024. The recruitment exercise is taking place under intense pressure, with little to no support for essential resources. The SCDs and other panel members, including Curriculum Support Officers (CSOs), have not been provided…

End of a Four-Decade-Old KCPE Era as Primary Schools Prepares for KPSEA Transition. In just about a month, Kenya will bid farewell to the Kenya Certificate of Primary Education Examination (KCPE), which has been in place for nearly four decades. The new Kenya Primary School Education Assessment (KPSEA) will take its place, with 1,303,913 Grade Six candidates set to sit for the new assessment, replacing the traditional primary school exit exam. Unlike the highly competitive KCPE, which led to intense competition for secondary school placements, KPSEA is designed to monitor learners’ progress as they transition to junior secondary school. The…

KICD Bans Encyclopedias, Warns Against Overuse of Revision Books. The Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (KICD) has cautioned publishers producing encyclopedias for schools, emphasizing the need to reduce reliance on revision books to ease the pressure on students. Prof. Charles Ong’ondo, the CEO of KICD, stated that the encyclopedias commonly used in schools add no significant value to learners’ academic growth. He noted that these books impose unnecessary costs on students and their parents. The KICD will strictly regulate materials not endorsed by the institute, issuing a stern warning to publishers producing such unauthorized books. He explained that the so-called…

Men Encouraged to Pursue Beauty Courses. Education stakeholders have urged men to pursue cosmetology courses as job opportunities in other sectors diminish. They highlighted the beauty industry, traditionally dominated by women, as a promising field that could offer self-employment opportunities for young men. This appeal was made during the fourth graduation ceremony at Embu Glamourland Technical and Vocational Training Institute. Key speakers stressed the need for cultural shifts and mindset changes about beauty-related courses. The Chairman of the Board of Management, Rev. Manase Nguo, speaking at the event held at Embu Stadium, pointed out the rapid growth of the beauty…