President Uhuru Kenyatta has ordered Education Cabinet Secretary George Magoha to release the 2021 school calendar. The president further assured the nation that no child will suffer even as covid-19 continues to affect schools.

“I direct the Ministry of Education to issue a full school calendar for 2021 within 14 days,” Mr Kenyatta said during the State of the Nation address on Thursday adding that Grade 4, class 8 and form 4 learners will continue with their normal learning in schools.

“No child will be left behind. That includes those who have transitioned to young parenthood during this period,” he said. Education CS Magoha is expected to convene a stakeholders’ meeting on recovering the 2020 academic calendar next week.

“As a parent and grandfather, I feel the pain of children remaining at home for a year,” the President stated, adding that the state would ensure learning is reformed.

Supplied textbooks

He announced the gradual replacement of the 8-4-4 education system with the competency-based-curriculum (CBC) would succeed, with Grade 5 expected to be rolled out in 2021.

The government has provided textbooks to learners in Grades 1 to 3 at a ratio of 1:1 in a programme meant to be extended to subsequent CBC classes.

About 430,598 students have been enrolled in technical and vocational education and training (TVET) institutions, president Kenyatta said, noting that the curricula for the TVETS have been realised in collaboration with industry professionals to make the training appropriate to market demands.

In 2 years ahead, the government will expand infrastructure in learning institutions in the coming two years to address the continuing problem of overpopulation and congestion, the President said.

The expansion will be funded by the Ministry of Education, county governments and the National Government Constituency Development Fund (NG-CDF).

The government estimates that a total of 12,500 classrooms will be built across the country to ease congestion that was exacerbated by the 100 transitions from primary to secondary school policy advanced by the government 2 years ago.

Infrastructural gap

Facilities in almost all secondary schools are stretched.

The 2020 Economic Survey reveals that Kenya has 23,286 public primary and 8,933 secondary schools in the overstretched facilities.

“Infrastructure in our schools is deteriorating but this should motivate us to work harder,” the President noted. “Through NG-CDF, we will address the infrastructural gap.”

Mr Kenyatta ordered the ministries of Education and Transport, Infrastructure, Housing and Urban Development to formulate guidelines on cost-effective structures for schools by December 1st, 2020.

“The next frontier in providing quality education is physical structure and content,” he stated noting that one of the biggest challenges for social distance in schools is lack of or rundown facilities

He also noted that besides congestion challenges, schools lack clean running water and storage vessels. Treasury Cabinet Secretary Ukur Yatani had stated that Sh2.1 billion would be spent to fund the construction of extra classrooms in secondary schools.

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Police have started a manhunt for a teacher for planting bhang in her homestead in Soy Constituency, Uasin Gishu County. According to Soy sub-county Police Commander Fanuel Nasio, approximately 100 Cannabis Sativa plants and several rolling materials for the substance were found at the teacher’s home on Tuesday, November 10.

The teacher disappeared after realizing that the police were to raid her house and she was traced to Busia County. The teacher is said to have intercropped Cannabis Sativa plants with kales in her vegetable garden within her homestead.

“The 100 cannabis plants were thriving in a homestead within Soy Township where the teacher lives with some of her workers. Surprisingly, they were planted in a place where no one expected that people could grow a banned substance,” Mr Nasio said.

The police boss also stated that the suspect was doing an illegal business and even trading the drug to school going teenagers. “The rate of school-going teenagers smoking bhang has been on the increase, prompting the police to find the source of the illicit drug,” the police commander said.

He said the cannabis plants were uprooted and materials used to roll bhang taken and will be used as evidence in court. Nasio appended that the suspect vowed to hand herself in at the Soy Police Station to shed light on the matter.

“We will go for her if she does not present herself at the police station today,” he said. The teacher’s son was arrested and taken to Soy Police Station where he is assisting the police with investigations.

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About 117 out of the 1000 Board of Management (BoM) teachers in Trans Nzoia county will benefit from the food donation programme. Trans Nzoia County emergence and response committee on coronavirus is out to help the worst-hit teachers by the impacts of Covid-19 after going without pay for months.

Since the outbreak of coronavirus in March, the teachers who had gone months in pain and agony without salaries as they felt ignored and asked for more well-wishers to help them subdue the challenges.  Among the most affected are the primary school teachers who were never considered by the government unlike secondary school BOM teachers who receive Ksh10,000 monthly stipend.

Even after the government directed that BOM teachers be paid some substantial amount of money to cushion them from the covid-19 effects it has also emerged that up to now there is a group of teachers who claim they never received a cent.

The Transzoia County Young Teachers Association Chairman Samuel Kimutai applauded the committee for the food benefactions given to teachers employed by the Board of Management (BOM) and requested for well-wishers to better the lives of the remaining more than 1000 teachers from the effects of the virus.
 




"We are full of appreciation to the county emergency response team on coronavirus and we can attest to the fact that the donations will assist the teachers to feed their families during this most hard-hitting times necessitated by COVID-19…We are asking the government and other well-wishers to chip in and assist them to overcome the challenges now that schools are not opening until next year," said Kimutai. 

Trans Nzoia County Young teachers Association secretary Juliana Miheso remarked that they had undergone a lot of suffering throughout the pandemic with no help. Miheso further urged the government to prioritize the employment of teachers who had not been absorbed. 

Miheso noted that the association had been mobilizing for assistance from good wishers to assist the helpless teachers who have had hurdles fending for their families during the Covid-19 pandemic. 

In Summary:

• TSC to train 118,000 teachers on CBC
• MPs want TSC to determine a maximum period for Deputies to serve in the position before promotion.
• MPs also concerned on the transfer of teachers particularly principals

The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) has said it will train some 118,000 teachers in December on the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC) for a cost of Sh1 billion.

“The commission intends to prepare teachers for eventual re-opening of schools through training, capacity building, sensitisation and induction programmes,” Macharia said.

The training is directed at ensuring prosperous implementation of the new Curriculum. In 2019, the TSC trained 339,752 teachers under the CBC at a cost of Kshh400 million.

Of these, 113 223 trained teachers, 22,417 of them from private learning institutions were trained in April while other 121,499 teachers and 23,143 tutors from private schools were trained in December.

During the meeting between TSC boss and parliamentary committee, it appeared that some 55,000 teachers have been promoted this year, with another 3,900 are set for interviews.

The Commission’s data points that some 460 teachers have already been interviewed and will be promoted soon. Parliamentarians expressed concern over the duration some deputy principals have served as acting head-teachers and asked TSC to determine a maximum period for such cases.

The MPs also proposed the urge to develop a policy on the promotion of teachers who have attained the required qualifications to head institutions.

They insisted that fairness considerations must be key in all promotion practices. The MPs also expressed concern over the transfer of teachers, particularly school principals and head-teachers.

They cited various schools in their constituencies that have encountered a great turnover at the administration and management level, adding that transfers affect the operation of the schools.

Macharia, though, said that all vacancies are filled competitively to promote national values, fairness, non-discrimination and equity.

“The criteria used in promotion of teachers include the availability of budget/funds; the existence of vacancies in the authorised establishment; merit and ability as reflected in the teacher’s work performance; academic and professional qualification among others,” she said.

Offences

Apart from teachers promotions, some 1,165 teachers have been punished for several offences. Dr Macharia stated that most teachers have faced disciplinary process for disobedience, immoral behaviour and desertion of duty.

According to Macharia, some teachers were punished for the neglecting duties and examinations irregularity, fraud and forgery, criminal offences, chronic absenteeism and engaging in corporal punishment.

She said that the commission has successfully resolved cases via video conferencing since August 2020 adding that the commission needs Ksh60 million to achieve the Teacher Induction Mentorship and Coaching (TIMEC) programme.

The programme enables mentors/coaches and mentees to interact at an institutional level while at the same time proceeding to perform their regular teaching duties.

The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) has revealed its plan to hire 12000 interns ahead of schools reopening in January next year.

The commission said it promptly needs Ksh25 billion to efficiently plan for schools opening, which has been pushed to January next year.

The Commission stated it plans to hire 12,000 more intern teachers before the opening date in January next year to add up to 23,574, the total number of teacher interns hired since last year.

The commission now demands Ksh17 billion to hire some 26,000 teachers to accomplish high schools enrollment under the 100 per cent transition. It also requires Ksh8.1 billion yearly to hire 12,500 teachers to curb the normal shortage.

TSC Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Dr Nancy Macharia submitted the report to parliament during a two-day consultative forum with National Assembly Education Committee.

She revealed that the commission intends to employ 12,500 teachers yearly for the next five years to moderate the shortage in Kenya.

“However, this target has not been met due to inadequate budgetary provisions,” she said. Under regular staffing, Macharia noted that the commission requires 50,504 teachers to support the current staff establishment.

Urgent need

“Instead, the commission has so far only employed 23,700 teachers since 2017,” she said. In the 2020-2021 financial year, TSC received a budget of Ksh2.5 billion to hire 5,000 teachers.

Under the Economic Stimulus Programme, the commission was allotted an additional Ksh2.4 billion funds to engage 12,000 interns.

Macharia said there is an urgent requirement to meet the right staffing levels amid the Covid-19 pandemic that continues to cause difficulties in schools.

The Meru High Court on Tuesday afternoon toured the scene where Meru University of Science and Technology (MUST) student leader Evans Njoroge was allegedly coldly executed by an Administration Police (AP) officer in a day-long protest two years ago.

Justice Patrick Jeremy Otieno listened to how a police patrol vehicle trailed rioting students in Kabebe village,2 kilometres from the university, where the student leader was reportedly gunned down in cold blood as he sought refuge in a farmhouse.

The Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) official Beatrice Atieno informed the court that the vehicle was tracked as it moved round towards the area, and it was near the scene when Mr Njoroge was executed.

She revealed to the court a scene within a secluded farm where the student leader, nicknamed Kidero, was shot dead under a tree, several yards from a residence where a family was having lunch.

Ms Atieno told the court that the police car then drove to Maua, approximately 40 kilometres from the shooting scene, before being driven back to Nchiru market in Tigania West where the university is located.

Mr Leaky Maina, who was attached to Miathene AP post, has been charged with the killing that happened on February 27th 2018.

However, the under tree session by the court was shortly interrupted by heavy rains and storm that pounded the region, forcing the court team to move to a little waiting room in the compound.

Justice Otieno together with another team of about 12 individuals filled the room as they sought to reconstruct the crime scene as the hearing continues today, on Wednesday.

Testify in camera

The prosecution wants some of the eyewitnesses to testify in camera for security reasons by using use pseudonyms. This will also redact statements of some of the witnesses.

Mr Maina has pleaded not guilty to the accusations and was released on Sh200,000 cash bail and Sh400,000 bond with surety.

He has also made applied to stop the prosecution from depending on data collected by IPOA as the main evidence in the case.

He alleges that IPOA is assuming the constitutional mandate of the Director of Public Prosecutions. The case continues today.

Private learning institutions in Nyeri County have challenged the national and county governments to waive this year’s taxes and other charges.

They also summoned the Education ministry to issue Sh7 billion it promised private schools to moderate the Covid-19 pandemic fallout.

Earlier in August, Education Cabinet Secretary George Magoha assured that the government would issue the money as a concessional loan to private schools which will confirm they can refund.

Ndima Kanini Academy headteacher Lincoln Njogu said the majority of private schools are grappling to survive as they have not been in business for the last 7 months.

Learning institutions were closed down in March following evidence of the first Covid-19 case in Kenya. Njogu said despite them not having other sources of income, they had to foot bills incurred by the schools.

They involve taxes and other expenses imposed by the national and county governments, insurance cover for schools vehicles, electricity and the school and water bills among others that were paid even during the 7 months schools were closed.

He said that despite only Grade 4 and Standard 8 resuming learning, some charges have not reduced despite the small number of pupils.

“Many parents lost their sources of income as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic and therefore were unable to pay school fees when Grade 4 and Class 8 pupils resumed school,” Njogu said.

Teachers, Njogu said, since they reported to school they have been working without pay or on half-pay. “Two classes cannot sustain their salaries in full and so some schools have not been paying teachers,” he said.

Kenyan based teacher who was bestowed the $1 million Global Teacher Prize in 2019, has been granted the 2020 Ahimsa Award by the Trustees of the Institute of Jainology in London. 

The Institute of Jainlology (IOJ) embodies 32 UK-based Jain institutions in government and inter-religious matters and this year’s award was announced at the 18th Jain All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) Ahimsa Day meeting in October.

Drilling a borehole for our school community. I am super excited that my pupils will soon enjoy free water and sanitation facility upgrades. The scarcity of water is one of the biggest challenges in many parts of the world thus such a project is a blessing to my pupils. God bless pic.twitter.com/fAdXRTu8s7

— Peter Tabichi (@petertabichi) October 13, 2020

The award celebrates the Jain principles of Ahimsa or non-violence, Kindness and compassion.

“He personifies peace, love and compassion in his work with both his students and his community, and truly represents the message of Ahimsa. We look forward to seeing his ongoing success as well as being a beacon for teachers and community leaders everywhere,” said IOJ Managing Trustee Dr Mehool Sanghrajka.

Mwalimu Tabichi is a maths and physics teacher from Pwani village in the poverty-stricken and frequently drought-hit region of Nakuru in Kenya’s Rift Valley.

It was a great honor and privilege to be appointed as one of the members of the National Heroes Council of Kenya. God bless us all🙏 pic.twitter.com/kPSy3Bhs8O

— Peter Tabichi (@petertabichi) November 2, 2020

He was picked for this year’s credit for his effort in dramatically improving attendance at his learning institution, conquering levels of local violence and even teaching local communities how to produce crops that can withstand famine.

“That Jainology is all about non-violence and compassion, is very dear to my heart as a religious man,” said Tabichi. The Jain All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) promotes the principles of Jainism, with Ahimsa Day marked in the month of October to coincide with the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi on October 2.

Through with test pumping. Plenty of clear water found. Report analysis and lab test next. In times of COVID-19, the future of education depends on the provision of water, sanitation, and hygiene services. pic.twitter.com/8YPJhxxJUA

— Peter Tabichi (@petertabichi) October 29, 2020

The 2020 Ahimsa Day meeting took place online due to the coronavirus lockdown restrictions in London with members such as Labour Party MP Gareth Thomas, the chair of the Jain APPG, and Conservative Party MP Bob Blackman, its deputy chair attending the meeting.

Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (Kuppet) has joined teachers on criticizing the Education Cabinet Secretary Professor George Magoha for harassing and humiliating teachers during his recent visit to Langas Primary School in Eldoret.

The Kuppet has termed the action as arrogance and high handedness. The CS seemed to have not been impressed by the state of hygiene last week when he visited the school in Eldoret.

Magoha was caught on camera asking teachers to pick up trash. He was also caught up dressing down an older member of the teaching staff who is now an education officer. The video has gone viral on social media and has elicited criticism from various quarters both online and offline.   

"Nikisema wewe ni mjinga ni urongo? You are talking about the report and I'm talking about what's here….Unaweza enda, get away from this meeting Now!…wewe ni mjinga kabisa." Said the CS pointing his hand at the teacher. The Kuppet officials say that it was embarrassing and humiliating to ask teachers to collect garbage together with students.

Speaking from Eldoret, Uasin Gishu Kuppet Secretary-General, Elijah Maiyo expressed hiss disappointment by the degrading status of the teachers. "We saw it was not good to ask teachers to collect trash in the presence of everyone. Journalists were there, students were there, parents were there" Said Maiyo.

"We would want as soonest as possible, the Cabinet Secretary for Education, to apologize to everyone including teachers and all stakeholders in Uasin Gishu County," said Maiyo adding that as a party they have a chance to sue him before Human Rights Commission if he does not apologize.

The Uasin Gishu Kuppet branch also threatens to mobilize all Education Stakeholders not to attend all his official meetings in the county. Maiyo further revealed that they may be forced to write a letter to his Excellency President Uhuru Kenyatta to Sack the Cabinet Secretary.

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A doctor from Nakuru County has sued the government for its decision to force primary and secondary school students to repeat classes after the long pandemic period disrupted leaning across the country.

Filing on behalf of two minors, Dr Magare Gikenyi Benjamin on Thursday appeared before the Nakuru County High Court demanding a response from the Education Cabinet Secretary Professor George Magoha and the Kenya National Examination Council (KNEC).

The two have been accused by Gikenyi of proclaiming decisions without facts and scientific and legal evidence hence subjecting the 2 minors and thousands of school-going children to unfair treatment.

“The rights to education of the thousands of pupils and students have been affected. They have not been given a fair treatment,” he said in his court papers filed before Justice Joel Ngugi. He stated that crushing hopes of learners awaiting to sit their national examinations this year is illegal and inhuman.

Gikenyi said that the Ministry of Education decided that students have not covered the curriculum without examining them. The Education Ministry on July 7th declared that there would be no pre-primary school admission in 2021 and that the current Standard 7 pupils will not proceed to Standard 8.

Education CS Magoha stated learners would repeat classes due to incomplete syllabus coverage adding that the 2020 school calendar would be deemed lost due to Covid-19 constraints. He said all learners in primary and secondary schools apart from the current candidates will repeat classes in 2021.

Magoha also decided that there will be no sitting for KCSE nor KCPE examinations until next year due to the pandemic. However, Gikenyi states the determinations by the CS was based on opinions, rumours and guesses, and as a result, thousands of learners have lost immensely.

The doctor wants the court to force the ministry to approve the enrolment of pre-primary learners in 2021 as well as to allow learners to proceed to the next level, and register and consider those who may wish to sit the national examinations.

“Without any notice whatsoever, CS Magoha caused schools to abruptly cut learning. There is no admission to pre-primary, no progression to Standard Eight and any other class and no registration of learners to sit the KCPE and KCSE exams for the current Standard Seven pupils and Form Three students,” stated the doctor.

Education Ministry’s decision according to Gikenyi has resulted to the wastage of time and fees paid for the year 2021 which has, in turn, put pressure on parents and guardians admitting that Covid-19 has influenced economic hardships.

He accuses the CS caring less about the time wasted in learning in term one as well as during home-based and e-learning.

“The CS cared less about the future of the learners who have been working hard to complete their education in time and prepare for the life ahead,” Gikenyi noted.

The Nakuru based doctor argues there’s no nexus between the physical resumption of schools and the Covid-19 situation in the country to stopping four-year-olds from being admitted to pre-primary in 2021. Justice Ngugi approved the application as urgent but failed to issue directions against the Education CS.

Justice Ngugi stated that the concerns in the application are about the policy on the progression of learners owing to Covid-19 pandemic merits full ventilation to decide if it is truly rational or was otherwise reached at in infringement of due manner that safeguards public participation rights of key stakeholders.

The case will be introduced again on November 16.