Ex-TSC Commissioner Calls for Quality Assurance Reforms to Boost Education Outcomes.
Joseph Obonyo, a prominent educationist, emphasized the need for the government to revitalize quality assurance and standards in order to enhance basic education.
Obonyo, a former Commissioner of the Teachers Service Commission (TSC), expressed concern over the current lack of ongoing school assessments by the government, which he believes are crucial for the Ministry of Education to understand how best to offer support.
These assessments, he said, would also help implement necessary policy changes.
The Decline of School Supervision
Obonyo highlighted the decline in school supervision, noting that the government has neglected quality assurance in public schools over the years.
He expressed concern that, without thorough oversight, persistent problems in the education sector would continue.
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He pointed out that enhancing the inspectorate would help identify gaps, enabling the Ministry of Education and the TSC to address these issues and ensure better outcomes. This includes addressing financial mismanagement in schools.
Education Commissions and Their Challenges
Another issue raised by Obonyo is the proliferation of education commissions that generate numerous reports.
However, he noted that these reports often fail to result in concrete actions, as their recommendations are rarely implemented.
This lack of follow-through, he argued, further contributes to the challenges faced in the education sector.
Concerns About the CBC Rollout
Regarding the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC), Obonyo expressed concerns about its rushed implementation. He explained that schools are inadequately equipped with the necessary infrastructure to support the new curriculum.
He also observed that teachers have not been properly trained for CBC, which ultimately affects learners’ outcomes.
He suggested that an ideal approach would have been to place Junior Secondary Schools within secondary school settings, where facilities such as laboratories already exist.
However, with the decision to house Junior Secondary Schools in primary institutions, Obonyo predicted underutilization of secondary school resources, while primary schools would struggle to accommodate the new requirements.
Comparing Public and Private Schools
The educationist also lamented the disparity between public and private schools in implementing the CBC.
He pointed out that private academies are much better equipped, already possessing Science laboratories and other essential facilities, giving them a clear advantage over public institutions in CBC implementation.
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Joseph Obonyo, the former principal of Maranda High School, also served as the registrar at Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science and Technology (JOOUST). He is currently the director of Jayson Academy in Ndori town, Siaya County.
His extensive experience in education gives weight to his insights on the challenges facing Kenya’s education sector.
Ex-TSC Commissioner Calls for Quality Assurance Reforms to Boost Education Outcomes.
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