Author: Hezron Rooy

Nairobi’s High International School Fees (Nairobi Tops List of Africa’s Most Expensive International Schools) Nairobi has emerged as the leading city in Africa for the most expensive international schools, according to a recent report by the International Schools Database. Released on Wednesday, the report indicates that annual fees for international schools in Kenya can reach up to Ksh4.71 million. Median Fees and Global Rankings The report highlighted that the median annual fee for international schools in Nairobi is Ksh688,000 (USD 5,335). Globally, Nairobi is ranked 67th, with New York taking the top spot. It was noted that the top three…

Blow to Intern Teachers as Court of Appeal Halts Employment Orders In a significant setback for 46,000 intern teachers, the Court of Appeal has suspended orders that required the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) to employ them on permanent and pensionable terms. This decision, made by Justices Asike Makhandia, Sankale Ole Kantai, and Ngenye Macharia, overturns the Employment and Labour Relations Court’s (ELRC) earlier ruling, allowing the TSC to maintain the teachers in their current internship status until the case is fully resolved. The TSC argued that implementing Justice Byrum Ongaya’s order would disrupt its operations as the budget did not…

Kisii University Responds to 16,000 KUCCPS Admissions Controversy Kisii University has rebutted claims that it admitted a staggering 16,000 students through the Kenya Universities and Colleges Central Placement Service (KUCCPS) for the upcoming academic year. Professor Fredrick Wanyama, the Deputy Vice Chancellor Academics, has clarified that the actual intake for 2024 stands at 7,772 students, a decrease compared to the previous year’s figures. “We did not receive 16,000 students. Last year, our intake was slightly over 8,000 students, so this year’s numbers are lower than last year’s,” explained Professor Wanyama. Factors Behind Kisii University’s Appeal Professor Wanyama attributed Kisii University’s…

TSC Wins Appeal: Intern Teacher to Wait Longer for Confirmation The Court of Appeal has delayed the permanent employment of 46,000 intern teachers by the Teachers Service Commission (TSC). Justices Asike Makhandia, Sankale Ole Kantai, and Ngenye Macharia suspended a prior order from the Employment and Labour Relations Court (ELRC) that required TSC to transition these interns to permanent, pensionable positions. As a result, these teachers will continue working as interns until TSC’s appeal is resolved. The TSC argued that implementing the ELRC’s directive would disrupt its operations since the budget did not cover the permanent employment of 46,000 intern…

KUPPET Issues Directive on TSC’s Unlawful Dismissal of 700 JSS Teachers The Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) has expressed serious concern regarding the recent dismissal of approximately 700 Junior Secondary School (JSS) teachers. KUPPET says the dismissal contradicts the Return-to-Work Formula (RTWF) negotiated by KUPPET with the Teachers Service Commission (TSC). The RTWF, agreed upon to end the recent labour action, stipulated that: Follow Teachers Updates On X Despite these conditions, reports indicate that over 700 teachers who complied with the RTWF were still dismissed. These teachers either returned to their schools or attended the mandated ‘retooling’…

Overworked Lecturers & Rising Student Dropouts in New Funding Model: UASU Highlights Strains On Wednesday, Onesmus Mutio, the Organising Secretary of the Universities Academic Staff Union (UASU), highlighted the severe challenges universities face due to the new higher education funding model introduced last year. Mutio pointed out that lecturers are overwhelmed and student dropouts are increasing. The new funding model requires universities to disclose the costs of their programmes on the Kenya Universities and Colleges Central Placement Service (KUCCPS) platform. This allows students to choose between private and public universities. KUCCPS then allocates students based on the slots declared by…

TSC Advances Promotion Interviews for County Director Roles The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) recently conducted initial interviews for more than 50 Sub-County Directors (SCDs) and deputy directors aiming to advance to the role of County Directors (CDs). These interviews, held approximately two weeks ago, are part of the process to fill 13 upcoming vacancies for CDs due to retirements or expired contracts. In February of this year, TSC advertised 13 positions of Deputy Director-Teacher Management at Job Grade 5, as well as five positions for senior directors who either resigned or were newly created under the Career Progression Guidelines (CPG)…

TSC Asked to Reinstate Sacked JSS Teachers or Face Parliamentary Censure The Teacher Service Commission (TSC) faces criticism for dismissing 7,357 Junior Secondary School (JSS) teachers nationwide. A group of Members of Parliament, led by Nandi Senator Samson Cherargei, has demanded the commission rescind its disciplinary action immediately or face parliamentary censure. Cherargei, addressing journalists at Parliament Buildings, called on TSC to offer permanent and pensionable positions to over 46,000 intern teachers. He stated that the termination letters sent to JSS teachers were punitive and unacceptable, urging TSC to revoke them. TSC, in a statement yesterday, confirmed dismissing some JSS…

Private University Placements Double as Student Choice Shifts A significant increase in student applications to private universities has been recorded by the Kenya Universities and Colleges Central Placement Service (KUCCPS), with a total of 18,557 applicants this year, almost doubling last year’s numbers. Last year, 9,622 students were placed in private universities. According to KUCCPS data released on Tuesday, June 11, private universities had a cumulative declared capacity of 57,322 vacancies, achieving a 32 percent placement rate. The higher education funding model introduced last year allows students to choose between public and private universities. Placement is determined by choice and…

CUE Questioned Over Approval of 277,000 First-Year University Slots During the 2024-2025 student placement cycle, concerns were raised by Members of Parliament regarding the approval of more than 277,000 student admissions across public and private universities by the Commission for University Education (CUE). The National Assembly Committee on Education, in particular, scrutinized the decision to allow Kisii University to enroll 16,464 first-year students. MPs questioned whether the university had adequate academic staff and infrastructure to support such a large student population, especially considering its declared capacity surpasses that of older and more established institutions. According to documents presented to the…