Author: Hezron Rooy

University of Nairobi Student Association (UNSA) Issues 14-Day Strike Notice. The University of Nairobi Student Association (UNSA) has announced a 14-day strike notice in response to the government’s decision to create committees tasked with reviewing educational loans under a new scheme. The student association, led by President Rocha Madzao, has expressed strong discontent with this development, arguing that the proposed changes do not align with student needs or the nation’s educational goals. In a recent press statement, Madzao highlighted concerns about the creation of four committees designed to address issues related to the loan scheme. He emphasized that this move…

Protests at Kabete Polytechnic, Multimedia University as Students Clash With Police. Kabete National Polytechnic was indefinitely closed on Tuesday following student protests. The students took to the streets, voicing opposition to the recent hike in examination fees introduced by the institution’s management. Additionally, they protested against a newly enforced dress code. During the demonstrations, the students forced out Chief Principal Patrick Muchemi from his office and caused damage to the premises. Police from Kabete Police Station intervened to restore traffic flow on Waiyaki Way, which had been disrupted by the protestors. Following the unrest, the administration released a memo instructing…

Ruto’s University Funding Committee Appointments Spark Criticism. A 129-member committee, recently appointed by President William Ruto to review the higher education funding model, is already facing challenges before its official commencement. Concerns have been raised by university students regarding the committee’s composition and the selection criteria used for its members. It has come to light that while most committee members are university students, several universities have no representation. This has led to accusations of favoritism. Students have expressed frustration that some members are political activists associated with the United Democratic Alliance (UDA), and one member is a university dropout currently…

University Unions Strike Looming as Talks with Government Collapse. Efforts to prevent a nationwide strike by university lecturers and non-teaching staff have collapsed, paving the way for industrial action starting at midnight. This strike is expected to halt university operations and exacerbate the challenges facing the higher education sector. The University Academic Staff Union (Uasu) and the Kenya Universities Staff Union (Kusu) have called for the strike, following student protests against the higher education funding model. The students’ strike ended just a week ago after government intervention. Uasu and Kusu had issued a strike notice on September 11, 2024. In…

TSC to Deploy Excess Primary Teachers to JSS to Address Teacher Shortage. The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) has announced a plan to deploy primary school teachers to both special and junior secondary schools nationwide by the end of this month. This move aims to alleviate the shortage of teachers. TSC CEO Dr. Nancy Macharia recently informed the Cohesion and Equal Opportunities Committee that there is an excess of 18,057 primary school teachers. This surplus is the result of the Competency Based Curriculum (CBC) introduction, which led to the scrapping of Class 7 and 8. The Commission plans to address this…

Secondary Teachers Demand Allowance Increase for KCSE Exam Marking. Secondary school teachers have renewed their demands for higher allowances during the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) exams, set to start on October 22, 2024. Represented by the Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers (Kuppet), the teachers have requested an increase in their out-of-station allowances, asking for raises ranging from 750 to 900 percent. Proposed New Allowances Kuppet, through its Secretary-General Akello Misori, sent a letter to Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba proposing the following new daily rates: Kuppet emphasized that the current payment structure is unsatisfactory and urged the…

TSC Summoned by MPs Over 46,000 Pending Teacher Confirmations. The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) leadership has been summoned to appear before the Parliamentary Education Committee to address delays in confirming 46,000 Junior Secondary School (JSS) intern teachers. Despite the allocation of Ksh18 billion for this process, the confirmation remains pending. Inquiry Into Delay Committee Chairperson Julius Melly explained that the committee will investigate why the confirmation process has not yet been completed, despite the substantial funding. While speaking in Tinderet constituency, he expressed a commitment to ensuring that all 46,000 JSS intern teachers are confirmed to Permanent and Pensionable status.…

Commonwealth Scholarships for Kenyan Citizens: Applications Now Open. The State Department for Higher Education and Research has announced the availability of the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission (CSC) awards for Kenyan citizens. These scholarships, for the academic year 2025, will enable students to pursue Master’s and PhD degrees in the United Kingdom (UK). Available Scholarships and Application Deadline There are 10 PhD and 19 Master’s scholarships on offer, all fully funded and tenable at any UK university that is an approved CSC host. The online application process, which began on September 10, 2024, will close on October 15, 2024. The fields of…

TSC Set to Recruit 18,000 JSS Interns and 2,000 Primary School Interns. The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) is set to recruit 20,000 intern teachers in October this year. This recruitment will consist of 18,000 junior secondary school interns and 2,000 primary school interns, contributing significantly to the Competency Based Curriculum (CBC) implementation. Support for CBC Implementation Principal Secretary (PS) for Basic Education, Dr. Belio Kipsang, noted that 56,000 teachers have already been recruited in support of the CBC. The additional 20,000 will further boost these efforts. To accommodate Grade 9 learners in January next year, the government is constructing 18,000…

President Ruto’s Education Scorecard: Two Years in Office. Two years into President William Ruto’s administration, Kenya’s education policies face increasing challenges. From pledges to increase funding, employ more teachers, develop school infrastructure, and implement curriculum changes, the education sector has remained a top priority. Ruto’s Vision for Education Reform During his campaign to become Kenya’s fifth president, William Ruto set out an ambitious reform agenda, promising changes from early childhood education to tertiary levels. His vision for overhauling the education system was seen as challenging by many experts. The administration inherited a sector that was already struggling, and while the…