- KESSHA has backed the six proposed Education Reform Bills while warning that success depends on guaranteed funding, staffing and realistic timelines.
- The association has called for predictable, law-guaranteed capitation reviewed every three years, along with separate funding for Senior School pathways.
- KESSHA has urged Parliament to protect school heads from personal liability due to underfunding and to establish a multi-agency committee to monitor reform implementation.
The Kenya Secondary School Heads Association (KESSHA) has backed six proposed Education Reform Bills, but warned that the reforms will only succeed if the government guarantees adequate funding, staffing and realistic implementation timelines.
In its recommendations to Parliament, KESSHA said capitation should be predictable, provided by law and released to schools on time to enable effective planning and management. The association proposed that the per-learner capitation be reviewed every three years to reflect changes in the cost of food, Information and Communication Technology, examinations, transport and other essential services.
It also called for separate funding for Senior School pathways, particularly to support laboratories, workshops and specialised equipment. KESSHA said infrastructure development should not be financed from schools’ operational capitation.
On free basic education, the heads supported the removal of unauthorised levies but warned that school administrators could be exposed to personal liability if the government fails to provide adequate funding. The association urged Parliament to ensure criminal penalties target fraud and deliberate misconduct rather than decisions made by school heads in good faith amid funding challenges.
KESSHA further called for additional administrative staff in comprehensive schools, saying the expanded institutions would require stronger management structures. It proposed clear separation of responsibilities among Boards of Management, school heads, the Teachers Service Commission and the Ministry of Education, alongside mandatory induction for BOM members.
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On assessment reforms, KESSHA said the proposed new assessment body should maintain a balance between formative and summative assessment. It also wants the government to fund infrastructure and connectivity where schools are designated as examination centres. The association said school heads should not be held automatically responsible for assessment irregularities without due process.
KESSHA also wants the proposed teacher training laws to preserve the constitutional mandate of the Teachers Service Commission in the recruitment, deployment and discipline of teachers.
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On tertiary education financing, the association welcomed the proposed Tertiary Funding Authority but called for stronger career guidance in Senior School and clarity on scholarships, loan eligibility, appeals and the proposed 25 per cent salary deduction for loan recovery.
KESSHA urged the Ministry of Education to establish a multi-agency implementation committee bringing together school heads, TSC, KICD, teachers’ unions and parents to monitor the reforms and submit annual progress reports to Parliament.
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