Author: Hezron Rooy

KNUT Decries Rising Gender-Based Violence Among Teachers in Schools. The Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) has expressed concern over the increasing incidents of various forms of Gender-Based Violence (GBV) affecting teachers in schools across the country. The union highlighted how these cases are negatively impacting teachers’ performance, a worrying trend observed as the global 16 Days of Activism Against GBV approaches its final days. Mercy Muthoni, KNUT’s Second National Women Representative, pointed out that sexual harassment is the most prevalent form of GBV. She emphasized that this issue affects both genders, with male teachers also falling victim to harassment…

Parliament Wants Nationhood Science as a Mandatory Examinable Subject in School Curriculum. National values and principles of governance, including patriotism, national unity, devolution of power, and adherence to the rule of law, may soon be incorporated into the education curriculum. If approved by the National Assembly, a proposed bill will mandate their inclusion as examinable content in schools. The draft Education Laws (Amendment) Bill 2024 seeks to amend multiple education Acts, introducing “nationhood science” as an examinable subject from pre-primary through to higher education. This initiative aims to embed national values into learners from an early stage, fostering these principles…

Public University Lecturers to Receive Salary Increment Arrears this Month. Lecturers and non-teaching staff in public universities are set to receive salary increment arrears for October and November alongside their December salaries. This follows an agreement between their unions and the government, marking the initial implementation of the Sh9.7 billion deal that ended a month-long nationwide strike that paralyzed learning in public universities. The initial phase of the agreement involves Sh4.3 billion, with payment details finalized by a technical committee comprising representatives from the government, the Universities Academic Staff Union (UASU), the Kenya Universities Staff Union (KUSU), and the Kenya…

Ruto Orders Universities to Permit Students With Fee Arrears to Sit for Exams. President William Ruto has instructed all university Vice-Chancellors to permit students with outstanding fee balances to sit for their end-of-semester examinations. This directive is aimed at addressing financial challenges affecting students and institutions during the ongoing transition to the new student-centred funding model. Speaking at the Scott Christian University graduation ceremony in Machakos County on Friday, December 6, Ruto emphasized the need for patience from universities as they await the government’s full disbursement of scholarship funds. Join Teachers Updates on Facebook “Therefore I appeal to universities to…

Education CS Ogamba Justifies Closure of 348 Boarding Sections Despite Errors in School Listings. Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba has defended the government’s decision to shut down 348 boarding schools nationwide, emphasizing that the closures adhered to proper procedures. Speaking before the Senate’s Education Committee, Ogamba clarified that the affected schools would only reopen upon complying with the stipulated regulations. The committee revealed receiving numerous complaints about the process, with some schools claiming the exercise was unfair. Among the concerns raised were instances where schools without boarding sections were erroneously included on the closure list. Joe Nyutu, the committee chairman,…

Government Issues Deadline for Pension Registration, Threaten Payroll Suspension. The government has directed all pensioners to register on the new self-registration portal by February 28, 2025. National Treasury Principal Secretary Chris Kiptoo emphasized that failure to register by the set deadline would result in suspension from the payroll. He explained that this initiative is essential for organizing and improving pension administration. “Kindly know that any pensioner who does not complete registration by this deadline will face suspension from the payroll,” Kiptoo continued. The new system is part of an end-to-end enterprise resource planning initiative aimed at reducing fraud and inefficiencies…

DP Kindiki Tells KMTC Graduates to Embrace Global Opportunities Deputy President Kithure Kindiki has urged this year’s Kenya Medical Training College (KMTC) graduating class to consider working abroad as they step into the job market. Addressing the 93rd KMTC graduation ceremony held on Thursday at the Moi International Sports Complex in Nairobi, he emphasized the importance of seizing international opportunities. Rigorous Training and Market Readiness Kindiki highlighted the rigorous nature of KMTC training, which prioritizes practical and clinical work over theoretical learning. He noted that this balanced approach ensures graduates are not only market-ready but also competent, making them highly…

NBA Seeks to Incorporate  Biosafety and Biotechnology Education into CBC. The National Biosafety Authority (NBA) plans to collaborate with curriculum developers in Kenya to integrate biosafety concepts into learning materials for students. The initiative aims to familiarize learners with biotechnology and biosafety issues early, preparing them for careers in biotechnology. NBA Acting Chief Executive Officer Nehemiah Ng’etich stated that the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC) provides an opportunity to incorporate biosafety topics. He emphasized the importance of ensuring students understand biotechnology and its related safety concerns as part of their education. “We now have a new curriculum, the Competency Based Curriculum (CBC),…

Kenyan Job Vacancies Increase, but Salaries Take a Hit – Stanbic Report. In November, many Kenyan businesses maintained a trend of hiring more workers, even as the country grappled with economic difficulties. A survey by Stanbic Bank Kenya, released on December 4, highlighted a modest increase in employment across various sectors during the month. The Stanbic Bank report showed that businesses recorded a slight rise in job numbers, though hiring margins remained narrow due to the ongoing economic strain. For the second consecutive month, the seasonally adjusted Employment Index registered just above the 50.0 no-change threshold, indicating minimal growth in…

KNEC Warns Against KCSE Grade Changing Scams. The Kenya National Examination Council (KNEC) has urged Kenyans to remain vigilant against fraudsters alleging they can alter Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) examination results. On Thursday, December 5, KNEC dismissed allegations that national exam scores were being manipulated in favor of students who had paid for such services. KNEC Chief Executive Officer David Njengere clarified that online documents claiming to invite students to pay for mark changes were fabricated. The council issued the statement following reports that marks were being altered during the ongoing KCSE marking process. The flagged posts claimed…