Author: Hezron Rooy

KJSEA: KNEC Releases Junior School Pilot Exam Schedule The Kenya National Examination Council (KNEC) has announced the guidelines and timetable for the 2024 Kenya Junior School Education Assessment (KJSEA) pilot exam, which will run from Monday, July 15 to Wednesday, July 17. Examination Schedule Monday, July 15: Join Our WhatsApp Channel Tuesday, July 16: Wednesday, July 17: Exam Duration and Special Instructions The duration for each exam is listed beside the subject name, and no extra time will be given, except for Braille users, who are allocated an additional 30 minutes. The allocated time includes reading through the questions unless…

CS Moses Kuria Suspends All Public Service Recruitments The government has suspended all new and ongoing public service recruitment to control the escalating wage bill and recurring expenses. This announcement was made in a directive issued on Wednesday by Moses K. Kuria, Cabinet Secretary for Public Service, Performance, and Delivery Management. Moses K. Kuria explained that the directive aligns with the austerity measures discussed during Prof. Njuguna Ndung’u’s Budget presentation on June 13. In a letter to Amb. Anthony Muchiri, Chairperson of the Public Service Commission, Kuria emphasized the urgency of the directive. He stated that this measure is essential…

Construction of 9,000 Grade Nine Classrooms Begins The construction of 9,000 classrooms for Grade Nine learners has commenced, with the government mandating schools to use the allocated funds solely for this purpose. Each classroom is estimated to cost Sh1 million, making the total project cost approximately Sh9 billion. Dr. Belio Kipsang, the Principal Secretary for Basic Education, stated that this initiative is part of the Kenya Primary Education Equity in Learning (KPEEL) program. The program aims to reduce regional disparities in learning outcomes, improve retention rates of girls in upper primary levels, and enhance systems for equitable education delivery. Details…

KUCCPS Calls for Revision of KMTC September Intake Applications The Kenya Universities and Colleges Central Placement Service (KUCCPS) has announced that applicants for the KMTC September intake should revise their course choices by July 12. On June 9, KUCCPS invited students to begin applying for KMTC courses for the September intake. The placement service noted that those who applied but did not secure a course should revise their choices through the KUCCPS Student’s Portal. Eligibility and Requirements The application targeted qualified KCSE holders from 2014 to 2023, including those who previously applied unsuccessfully. Applicants can only apply for courses where…

Education Ministry to Centralize Data with New KEMIS Platform The Ministry of Education is preparing to centralize and streamline data across all levels of the education system. This initiative will be implemented through the Kenya Education Management System (KEMIS), designed to be a comprehensive source of information about learners and other critical aspects of education. This development follows a meeting held on Wednesday at the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (KICD) between Education Cabinet Secretary Ezekiel Machogu and various stakeholders. During the meeting, the scope of the envisioned KEMIS was discussed. Machogu emphasized that the web-based system would provide accurate…

KESSHA Wants Grades 8 and 9 Domiciled in Secondary Schools The Kenya Secondary Schools Heads Association (KESSHA) has proposed that the Ministry of Education move Grade 8 and 9 learners to secondary schools, citing insufficient resources in primary schools. KESSHA chairman Willy Kuria announced on Thursday that the association intends to discuss with the government the need to domicile Grades 8 and 9 in secondary schools. Kuria emphasized that secondary schools possess more resources, such as available classrooms, laboratories, and teachers, which can better serve the learners’ needs. Current Situation Currently, Junior Secondary School (JSS) includes Grades 7 to 9,…

KUCCPS Announces Transfer Portal Closing Date for First-Year Students The Kenya Universities and Colleges Central Placement Service (KUCCPS) has announced the closure of the portal for inter-institution transfer at midnight on Thursday, July 4. The placement body encouraged first-year students under government sponsorship to utilize this opportunity to transfer to their preferred university or institution. This includes students in public universities, colleges, polytechnics, and Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions. Application Process First-year students were advised to apply for the transfer through the KUCCPS portal at students.kuccps.net if they were recently placed in a university or TVET institution…

JSS Teachers Face Employment Delays as Schools Struggle with Finances As schools resume after midterm, there is heightened anxiety regarding the employment status of Junior Secondary School (JSS) teachers, financial challenges, and the safety of learners. The anticipated permanent employment for over 46,000 intern teachers this month may not materialize due to expected budget cuts in the education sector. Although the government allocated Sh18 billion for the employment of interns starting in July, the plan faces uncertainty, leading to further delays in their permanent employment. Initially, the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) planned to absorb the interns to permanent terms in…

Funding Delays, Higher University Fees and Loan Burdens for Graduates Families are now paying higher fees under the new higher education funding model introduced by the government last year, resulting in students graduating with substantial loans, as analyzed by Nation. The model, now in its second year, faces funding challenges, with delays in disbursing money to the Higher Education Loans Board (Helb) and the Universities Fund (UF) by the National Treasury. Students applying for government funding will incur heavier loan burdens compared to the old model, regardless of their financial need. Since January 2024, the UF received 9,726 appeals from…

List of 9 Teachers’ Allowances in TSC Amendment Bill 2024 Awaiting MPs Approval Parliament is considering the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) Amendment Bill, 2024, which proposes key changes to the remuneration structure for teachers. Sponsored by Mandera South MP Abdul Haro, the bill aims to introduce various allowances to enhance financial benefits for educators. The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) Amendment Bill, 2024, currently under consideration by parliament, proposes several key changes to the remuneration structure for teachers. If passed, the bill will provide house, commuter, hardship, special duty, responsibility, special school, and reader’s facilitation or aid allowances, among others. The…