- John Mukhetha argues that revamping Education Assessment and Resource Centres must be accompanied by adequate recruitment of qualified SNE personnel.
- He proposes converting about 320 existing CSO SNE officers to strengthen assessment, intervention and follow-up services across the country.
- Mukhetha says infrastructure improvements alone will not succeed unless the Ministry invests equally in specialised human resources.
The Ministry of Education’s plans to revamp Education Assessment and Resource Centres (EARCs) present an important opportunity to strengthen the provision of services for learners with special educational needs and disabilities.
As the centres are modernised and their roles expanded, the recruitment and deployment of adequate numbers of Special Needs Education (SNE) officers should be given priority.
EARCs play a critical role in the identification and assessment of learners with special educational needs, provision of appropriate interventions, and guidance to parents, teachers and schools on suitable educational support.
The effectiveness of these services largely depends on the availability of qualified and experienced personnel.
Kenya’s education policy has long recognised the need to strengthen EARCs. The Ministry’s National Education Sector Strategic Plan identifies understaffing, inadequate skills, poor infrastructure and insufficient equipment among challenges affecting the centres, and provides for recruitment and deployment of EARC personnel.
The planned revamping of EARCs is likely to increase the demand for specialised services.
Without sufficient SNE officers, the centres may face challenges such as staff shortages, delays in learner assessment, limited follow-up services and inadequate support for teachers and parents.
Recruiting and deploying more SNE officers would therefore help ensure that learners receive timely and appropriate support based on their individual needs.
One practical approach that the Ministry of Education could consider is the conversion of the existing County/Sub-County SNE officers serving under other government structures into the Ministry of Education.
There are approximately 320 CSO SNE officers across the country, many of whom already possess valuable experience and expertise in special needs education.
Rather than starting the recruitment process entirely from scratch, the Ministry could consider absorbing or converting these experienced officers to serve within the Ministry and assigning them responsibilities in the revamped EARCs.
Such a move would provide an immediate pool of skilled personnel who understand the needs of learners with disabilities and have experience working with schools, parents, teachers and other stakeholders.
The conversion of these officers would also ensure continuity of services and reduce the time and resources required to recruit and train new personnel.
Their existing knowledge and practical experience could be particularly valuable in strengthening assessment, intervention, referral and follow-up services at EARCs.
Furthermore, integrating the current CSO SNE officers into the Ministry of Education could help address staffing gaps in a structured and sustainable manner.
The officers could be strategically deployed to areas where the need for specialised assessment and support services is greatest.
Investing in human resources
The success of the EARC revamp should not only be measured by improvements in infrastructure, equipment and facilities.
Human resources are equally important.
Modern centres require qualified professionals who can effectively use the available resources and provide quality services to learners with diverse educational needs.
SNE officers are essential in ensuring early identification, assessment, intervention and appropriate placement of learners.
They also play an important role in supporting teachers and parents to understand and respond to the individual needs of learners with disabilities.
The Ministry should therefore consider the recruitment of additional SNE officers alongside the conversion and deployment of the existing CSO SNE workforce.
This would provide a comprehensive approach to addressing both current and future staffing requirements.
The need for stronger staffing is supported by earlier assessments of the EARC system. A national survey cited by UNESCO found that about one-third of county-level centres had only one officer, highlighting longstanding human-resource constraints.
A strategic opportunity
The planned revitalisation of EARCs provides the Ministry of Education with an opportunity to establish a stronger and more responsive system for supporting learners with special educational needs.
Converting the approximately 320 existing CSO SNE officers, who already have relevant expertise and field experience, could be a practical component of this strategy.
With appropriate policy direction, clear deployment structures and opportunities for continuous professional development, these officers can contribute significantly to the success of the revamped EARCs.
In conclusion, the revitalisation of EARCs should go hand in hand with investment in qualified human resources.
The Ministry of Education should consider converting the existing CSO SNE officers into the Ministry to serve in EARCs and other SNE programmes, while recruiting additional officers where gaps remain.
READ ALSO: SNE teachers demand implementation of February 2026 petition on grading, promotions
By utilising an already experienced workforce, the Ministry can strengthen service delivery, improve access to assessment and intervention, and ultimately enhance educational outcomes for learners with special educational needs and disabilities.
By John Mukhetha
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