Author: Hezron Rooy

Concerns Rise Over the Midyear KCSE Examinations. Uncertainty clouds the future of students planning to retake the KCSE examinations midyear following a recent High Court ruling. The court suspended the registration process for the July series exams after activist Dr. Mgar Giki filed a petition. He argued that the process infringed on children’s rights, raising both legal and ethical concerns. The Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) had announced plans to administer midyear KCSE exams annually, a policy now facing challenges. Education Principal Secretary Belio Kipsang reassured stakeholders of the government’s commitment to comply with the court’s directive. Speaking during the…

Meru University Shuts Down Indefinitely After Student Protests. Meru University of Science and Technology (MUST) has been indefinitely closed following student protests triggered by the killing of a visiting student from the Technical University of Mombasa (TUM). Vice Chancellor Romanus Odhiambo, after consulting with stakeholders, including the Senate, emphasized that the decision prioritized the safety of students, staff, and the community. All students were instructed to vacate the main campus at Nchiru, Tigania West, immediately. The unrest began after a TUM student visiting his girlfriend at Meru University was fatally attacked on Monday night. According to a student, Moses Msando,…

KUPPET Raises Alarm Over Political Interference in Teacher Recruitment. The Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) in Kisumu County has expressed concerns regarding the ongoing teacher recruitment process, accusing politicians of covertly interfering with the exercise. The union claims that political meddling is distorting the fairness of employment practices and leading to staffing imbalances in schools. During a press briefing in Kisumu, KUPPET Kisumu County Executive Secretary Zablon Awange voiced criticism against the Teachers Service Commission (TSC), asserting that it had relinquished its mandate to politicians, particularly Members of Parliament. He argued that this situation had led to…

Teachers Have Until January 31 to Update AON Minet Dependants. AON Minet, the medical service provider for teachers, has set January 31, 2025, as the deadline for teachers who wish to update their list of dependants. A dependant refers to an immediate family member covered by the scheme, which includes a spouse and up to four children. Teachers who intend to modify their dependants must log in to the portal to add or remove dependants while providing the necessary supporting documents. These documents include a scanned copy of the spouse’s ID, a birth notification for children below six months, and…

TSC Prolongs P1 Teacher Deployment to JSS After Low Turnout. The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) has extended the online application exercise for the deployment of primary school teachers to junior secondary schools (JSS). The Commission had planned to close the application portal on January 24, after activating it on January 13. However, due to the low number of applications received, TSC was compelled to extend the deadline to an unspecified date. TSC announced that from February, P1 teachers would be deployed to teach learners in Grades 7, 8, and 9, where a severe shortage of teachers persists. Despite this pressing…

KNEC Explains Delays in Paying 2024 KPSEA and KCSE Invigilators The Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) has not yet compensated teachers who supervised last year’s national examinations and assessments. Many teachers have voiced their frustration and dissatisfaction over the delayed payments, especially since the examination and assessment results were released months ago. A KNEC official, who spoke anonymously, attributed the delays to insufficient and incomplete details of teachers who invigilated and supervised the 2024 KPSEA and KCSE exams. This shortfall has complicated the payment process, leaving many educators disgruntled. To address the issue, KNEC sent messages to KPSEA centre managers…

CS Ogamba Urges Schools to Keep Learners Despite Fee Arrears. Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba has appealed to primary and secondary school head teachers to avoid sending learners home over unpaid fees. He emphasized that the government is in the process of disbursing an additional Ksh14 billion to schools, with the remaining amount expected to reach school accounts in the coming weeks. Addressing the press on Thursday morning at Jogoo House, Nairobi, Ogamba attributed the delays in disbursement to budgetary constraints but assured administrators of the government’s commitment to resolving the issue. He urged school leaders to exercise patience, noting…

Govt Releases Ksh14 Billion Capitation After Schools Fired Staff. The Government, through spokesperson Isaac Mwaura, announced the release of an additional Ksh14 billion in capitation funds following a public outcry from school principals over delayed disbursements. Mwaura confirmed that the funds, released on Wednesday, January 29, would be transferred to school accounts on Thursday, January 30, with KCB account holders gaining access the same day and other schools by Friday. In his statement, Mwaura noted that this recent allocation comes on the heels of Ksh19 billion disbursed last week, bringing the total funds released to schools so far to Ksh33…

HELB App Error Locks Out Students, Agency Urges Direct Contact. The Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) has advised students facing issues with its application to contact the agency directly for assistance. The HELB app has been experiencing technical glitches, with users receiving an error message that prevents access to services. Many students attempting to use the application encounter an error message stating “device changed,” even when no such change has occurred. This technical issue has disrupted access to vital HELB services, prompting the agency to step in. In a statement posted on X, HELB urged affected students to reach out…

THE ULTIMATE ANNUAL WORKSHOP FOR ENGLISH TEACHERS SET FOR 1ST FEBRUARY 2025. The Nakuru High School Languages Department, in collaboration with the East African Educational Publishers (E.A.E.P), is organizing a one-day workshop for all English teachers. The event is set to take place on Saturday, 1st February 2025, at the school’s Multi-Purpose Hall, running from 8:30 AM to 3:30 PM. The workshop aims to utilize the experience of senior and well-versed K.N.E.C English examiners who will provide valuable insights into both the teaching and assessment of English. Key areas of focus will include Functional Skills, Literary Appreciation, Creative Writing, Essay…