CS Ogamba’s First 100 Days at the Helm of Education.
The transition of learners from Grade 8 to Grade 9 remains a key challenge for the education sector under Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba, who has now completed 100 days in office.
With only 35 days remaining before the transition, schools are preparing for the January reopening amidst widespread uncertainty about institutional readiness.
Central to this readiness is the delivery of over 16,000 classrooms required to implement the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC), but significant delays have occurred due to funding and administrative challenges.
In a November update to Parliament, Ogamba disclosed that 5,000 classrooms had been completed, leaving 11,000 still under construction.
He also assured that all Grade 9 learners would receive textbooks by mid-December, addressing distribution challenges that have compounded the sector’s woes.
Strikes, Funding Woes, and Leadership Wrangles
Ogamba’s tenure has been marked by ongoing teachers’ and lecturers’ strikes, as well as leadership disputes in universities.
A contentious university funding model, aimed at allocating resources based on students’ economic needs, was suspended by the courts in September after criticism from Parliament and other stakeholders.
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The suspension led to the freezing of funds for over 200,000 students, plunging universities into further chaos.
Stakeholders, including the Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) and Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET), have voiced concerns about the systemic underfunding and strained labour relations in the education sector, which have only worsened under Ogamba’s leadership.
Cracking Down on Unsafe Boarding Schools
Following a tragic fire at a boarding school in Endarasha, Nyeri County, which claimed 21 lives, Ogamba ordered the closure of 348 boarding schools that failed to comply with safety regulations.
This decisive move was part of his efforts to address safety concerns and enforce guidelines in the sector.
Mixed Reactions to Leadership
Stakeholders have expressed divided opinions on Ogamba’s performance.
KNUT Secretary General Collins Oyuu noted that the CS has faced challenges similar to those of his predecessors, particularly in balancing ambitious reforms with inadequate resources.
While Oyuu acknowledged Ogamba’s focus on urgent issues, he critiqued his measures as being reactive rather than forward-thinking.
KUPPET Secretary General Akello Misori urged Ogamba to develop long-term solutions, particularly on school funding. He emphasized the need for sustainable strategies to resolve the sector’s perennial issues.
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The Road Ahead
Education expert Janet Ouko Muthoni cautioned that the next 100 days will be even more critical, as the sector continues to navigate the complexities of the Grade 9 transition.
Despite the progress made, stakeholders remain concerned about the ministry’s ability to deliver lasting solutions in the face of persistent challenges.
CS Ogamba’s First 100 Days at the Helm of Education.
