Author: Hezron Rooy

KNUT and TSC Resolve Contentious Issues in Recognition Agreement Top officials from the Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) and the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) concluded a week-long retreat in Naivasha. The retreat focused on addressing contentious clauses in the new five-year recognition agreement, a document that has governed industrial relations between the two entities since its inception in 1968. The agreement, traditionally renewed every five years, provides a framework for negotiating teachers’ terms and conditions of service. Upon review and finalization, the document will be signed and deposited with the Registrar of Trade Unions, ensuring it becomes legally binding.…

621 Candidates from 198 Examinations Centres Involved in Malpractice, Says Ogamba. The Ministry of Education has documented 621 incidents of examination malpractice following the completion of the 2024 Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) examination. These cases, currently under investigation, were reported in 198 out of 10,754 examination centres across the country. Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba revealed that the malpractices involved candidates and supervisors found with unauthorised items, including mobile phones, written materials, and instances of collusion and impersonation. The violations included candidates sharing images of exam papers on social media. Out of 965,501 candidates, 621 were implicated, representing…

348 Non-Compliant Boarding Schools to Transition to Day Schools by January. Following a directive by President William Ruto, the Ministry of Education conducted a national assessment of all boarding schools to evaluate safety and compliance with regulations. This followed a tragic dormitory fire at Hill Side Endarasha Academy in Nyeri County in September, which claimed 21 lives and left others injured. The assessment revealed that 348 boarding schools failed to meet required standards in areas such as dormitory safety, fire equipment maintenance, sanitation, and learner welfare. These schools will transition to day schools by January 2025 to ensure a safer…

KUPPET Demands 100% Salary Increment for Teachers, Standing Allowance in Next CBA. The Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) has called for a 100% salary increment for teachers in the next Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA). Speaking during a recent address, KUPPET leaders led by Assistant Treasurer Ronald Tunoi emphasized the urgent need to improve the welfare of classroom teachers, highlighting concerns over stagnant promotions, inadequate allowances, and substandard medical coverage. KUPPET urged the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) to prioritize teachers’ needs by sourcing funds to promote the 130,000 educators identified as having stagnated in their current job groups. According…

Government to Recruit 20,000 Teachers by January, Announces Ruto President William Ruto has outlined significant achievements in the education sector, including addressing critical staffing shortages and ensuring a smooth transition to the Competence-Based Curriculum (CBC). Speaking in Parliament, he revealed that the education sector was in crisis by 2022, citing severe challenges in teacher shortages and financial instability in public universities. “By 2022, the education sector faced a dire shortage of 110,000 teachers, and 23 out of 40 public universities were technically bankrupt,” President Ruto stated, emphasizing the urgency of reforms. Join Teachers Updates on Facebook Among the struggling institutions…

Sh4.2bn Pledge Fails to End Ongoing University Lecturers’ Strike Students in public universities will face prolonged delays in resuming classes as lecturers maintained their stance on continuing the strike. This came despite the government’s announcement of a Sh4.3 billion offer to partially implement the contested collective bargaining agreement (CBA). In a meeting convened by the National Assembly’s Education Committee, officials from the University Academic Staff Union (UASU), Higher Education and Research Principal Secretary Beatrice Inyangala, and an Inter-Ministerial Committee discussed the strike. The government confirmed that it had secured Sh4.3 billion from the National Treasury to implement the CBA. However,…

First Lady Rachael Ruto Calls for Investment in School Feeding Programs First Lady Rachael Ruto has appealed to African leaders to prioritize investments in school feeding programs, emphasizing their critical role in shaping the continent’s future. She highlighted that these initiatives not only keep children in school but also ensure they receive the education necessary for Africa’s development. While addressing celebrations for this year’s World Children’s Day at Kaptembwa Primary School in Nakuru, Mrs. Ruto stated Kenya’s ambition to deliver 10 million meals daily in schools by 2030. Currently, the country provides 2.5 million meals daily, with plans to expand…

Sossion Calls for Overhaul of CBC and Accountability in Education Sector. Former KNUT Secretary-General Wilson Sossion has strongly criticized the implementation of the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC) and called for accountability in public universities over alleged mismanagement. Speaking in a recent interview, Sossion urged the government to prioritize reforms and take decisive action to address systemic challenges in the education sector. Sossion emphasized the need to hold individuals accountable for the mismanagement and corruption that has crippled public universities, including Moi University. He argued that embezzlement of funds should not go unpunished, stating that the government must ensure justice and restore…

KCSE Candidate Dies Under Mysterious Circumstances in Turkana. A Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) candidate has tragically passed away under unclear circumstances in Turkana County, sparking grief and calls for investigations. The student, identified as John Eali from Talent High School, went missing on Wednesday after completing his Agriculture Paper One examination. He was later found in the school dormitory in critical condition and was rushed to Lodwar Referral Hospital. Despite efforts to save him, Eali succumbed to his condition on Thursday night. A family member expressed their distress, stating, “We are heartbroken and disappointed by the school’s management…

President Ruto Defends Higher Education Funding Model Amid Controversy. President William Ruto has stood firm in support of the higher education funding model, despite resistance from various stakeholders and a court order suspending its implementation. Speaking during his state of the nation address on Thursday, he emphasized that the model was introduced to resolve financial instability in higher education institutions. He explained that it prioritizes vulnerable students by offering them up to 95% government support, while simultaneously addressing financial crises threatening universities. Rolled out in 2023, the funding model has drawn criticism for its perceived shortcomings, including high tuition costs…