- Education CS Julius Ogamba has urged secondary school principals to strengthen career guidance programmes to support learners under the Competency-Based Education system.
- He called on schools to establish structured career guidance frameworks, train teachers and involve parents in learners’ career choices.
- The CS also assured school heads that the government remains committed to addressing staffing, infrastructure and capitation challenges.
Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba has called on secondary school principals to strengthen career guidance programmes in their institutions.
Speaking during the closing ceremony of the Kenya Secondary School Heads Association (KESSHA) conference in Mombasa on Friday, June 26, CS Ogamba urged school leaders to establish career guidance frameworks, equip teachers with the necessary skills to mentor learners, and actively involve parents in helping students make informed career choices.
“I therefore call upon all of you, as school leaders, to strengthen career guidance programmes within your institutions by establishing robust career guidance structures, equipping teachers appropriately and actively engaging parents in the career guidance process,” he said.
The CS noted that the introduction of learning pathways and subject combinations at the Senior School level under the Competency-Based Education (CBE) system has fundamentally changed how learners make academic and career decisions.
“Learners are now required to make decisions that will influence their future education, training and career trajectories. This reality places a greater responsibility upon schools to provide structured, accurate and continuous career guidance,” he said.
Ogamba emphasised that learners require guidance to appreciate the opportunities available within the various pathways so that they can make informed decisions about their future.
CBE transition
The CS further noted that the implementation of the Competency-Based Education curriculum has reached a critical milestone, with the first cohort of learners transitioning to Senior School earlier this year.
“This transition reflects a deliberate shift towards an education model that seeks to nurture the talents, interests, values and competencies of every learner while preparing them for productive participation in society and the economy,” he said.
The CS also responded to concerns and challenges raised by school heads during the conference, assuring them that the government was committed to addressing the issues.
“As Government, we acknowledge that the sector has challenges that require to be addressed. Whereas education continues to receive the highest percentage of the country’s annual budget, there are still gaps that require intervention,” he said.
He highlighted ongoing efforts to address the challenges, including the recruitment of 100,000 teachers since 2023. He also pledged that more teachers would be employed to ensure schools are adequately staffed.
“During the same period, we have constructed over 23,000 classrooms to support transition under the Competency-Based Education system. For Senior Schools, we have already secured funding to construct 1,600 laboratories to support the STEM pathway,” Ogamba said.
He also addressed the issue of capitation, noting that schools now receive the funds before the start of each term. He added that the government remains committed to ensuring institutions consistently receive the approved capitation amounts.
The CS further noted that, besides providing material support, the government is implementing legal and policy reforms to create a more enabling environment for the education sector.
“Already, we have submitted bills in Parliament that seek to streamline the governance of basic education, anchor Competency-Based Assessment, improve teacher education and management, and enhance coordination in the funding of basic education through scholarships and bursaries as complements to capitation,” said Ogamba.
Call for collaboration
In his closing remarks, the Cabinet Secretary challenged school heads to remain steadfast in transforming learners’ lives despite ongoing institutional hurdles.
READ ALSO: Residents near Lakes Baringo and Bogoria seek Govt help over rising water levels
He expressed gratitude to KESSHA for its enduring partnership in advancing quality education, emphasising that the success of the Competency-Based Education curriculum and broader sector reforms depends on strong collaboration among the government, principals, teachers, parents, and private stakeholders.
By Frank Mugwe
You can also follow our social media pages on Twitter: Education News KE and Facebook: Education News Newspaper for timely updates.
>>> Click here to stay up-to-date with trending regional stories
>>> Click here to read more informed opinions on the country’s education landscape
