Author: Hezron Rooy

CBC Textbook Crunch: Parents Rely on Old Books as New Grade 5 to 8 Textbooks Stall. The Kenya Publishers Association has pledged that textbooks for Grades 5 to 8 will be ready by the end of January, addressing concerns raised by parents. Many parents with children in private schools are awaiting the release of these new books, which will replace the older editions, requiring further financial investment. During a press conference on Tuesday, January 7, the Chairperson of the Publishers Association emphasized that teachers and students can continue using the existing books until the new editions become available. This reassurance…

University Students Declare Nationwide Protest Over Rising Abductions. University students have announced plans to stage nationwide protests starting January 15 to highlight the increasing cases of abductions. Organized under the Kenya University Students Association (KUSA), the students aim to demand an end to what they described as a crisis of abductions targeting young Kenyans. KUSA officials, led by Omin Osano, alleged during a press briefing that the majority of the abductees are members of their association. The officials accused the government of failing to outline effective measures to address the issue, describing the abductions as an extrajudicial action that has…

TSC Turns to Primary Teachers to Address Junior Secondary School Crisis. Primary school heads of institutions are currently attending sub-county meetings nationwide to deliberate on various issues for the first term following the reopening of schools earlier this week. One key issue emerging from the discussions is the recommendation for primary school teachers to assist in teaching Junior Secondary School (JSS) learners in Grades 7, 8, and 9 to address the existing teacher shortage. Despite a previous directive by the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) prohibiting primary teachers from working in JSS without formal deployment, the Commission has now turned to…

TSC Sends Out Interview Invitations for Nationwide Teacher Promotions. Teachers across the country have started receiving invitations to attend the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) promotion interviews. The Commission is set to conduct these interviews next week to fill 19,943 recently declared promotion vacancies. Notifications sent to teachers include details on required documents, such as original identification, academic certificates, and performance appraisals. The interviews will commence immediately after the release of the 2024 KCSE results for 965,501 candidates, which is scheduled for January 13, 2024, at KNEC Mtihani House in Nairobi. TSC emphasized that applicants should bring documentation, including letters of…

KPSEA Results Remain Pending as Confusion Marks School Reopening. The reopening of schools yesterday was marked by widespread confusion among parents uncertain whether Kenya Primary School Education Assessment (KPSEA) candidates, whose results have not yet been released, should report to junior secondary school. While some schools with extra classrooms directed Grade 9 students to report, others grappled with accommodating the new cohort due to insufficient space. This left many parents unsure about the appropriate steps for their children. Parents Struggle with Rising Costs Parents transitioning their children to Grade 9 faced the additional burden of increased costs for learning materials.…

Congestion, Classroom Shortages and Teacher Gaps Mark Grade 9 Rollout. The first day of Grade 9 under the new Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC) saw over one million learners grapple with congestion, inadequate infrastructure, and a shortage of teachers. Despite government assurances, Nation Africa’s spot checks revealed learners sharing classrooms and using makeshift structures in many schools, with some lacking textbooks. Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba dismissed the concerns, stating the government is on track with the junior school rollout. Speaking in Kajiado North, Ogamba emphasized that 14,500 classrooms had been constructed out of a targeted 16,000. He assured that textbooks would…

Leadership Crisis at UoN: 24 Key Positions Held by Acting Officials. The University of Nairobi (UoN) is grappling with a severe leadership crisis, with 24 key managerial positions, including those of Vice-Chancellor (VC), Deputy Vice-Chancellors (DVCs), and directors of critical departments such as Finance and Human Resources, occupied by acting officials. This state of affairs has left Kenya’s premier university in a prolonged administrative limbo. The university’s leadership struggles have persisted since governance reforms were introduced in 2021, according to UoN Council Chairman Amukowa Anangwe. He explained that structural changes implemented by the previous council, including the abolition of certain…

KCSE Results 2024: Countdown Begins as Ministry Issues Latest Statement. The Ministry of Education has reassured parents and students that the 2024 Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) results will be released on time, maintaining the usual January schedule. Basic Education Principal Secretary (PS) Belio Kipsang, on Thursday, December 26, 2024, stated that the results would be released within the same timeline as the previous year, addressing growing concerns over potential delays. PS Kipsang clarified that this is the second consecutive year for January releases, and any speculation of hurried processes is unwarranted. He dismissed allegations of manipulation and assured…

Why Parliament Demands Education Funds Increased. Parliament has urged the Ministry of Education to present a detailed plan outlining strategies to raise capitation for learners in both primary and secondary schools. This request comes in response to concerns raised by Suna West MP Peter Masara over declining financial allocations to schools despite rising costs of living and inflation. Mr. Masara emphasized that the current government funding is insufficient to sustain schools, which he argued forces headteachers to find alternative ways to cover budget shortfalls. He claimed that this compromises the quality of education as schools struggle to provide essential resources.…

Government Distributes 9.9 Million Textbooks to Primary Schools. The government has successfully delivered 9.9 million textbooks to public primary schools across the country, Education Principal Secretary (PS) Belio Kipsang reported. He confirmed that schools which had not initially received the materials have now been supplied with the books. According to the PS, instances of schools failing to receive their books were not due to availability issues but rather logistical challenges. For instance, some schools were closed on the scheduled delivery day, leaving no one available to receive the materials. Nevertheless, he assured that all the books have been printed and…