The National Council of Churches of Kenya (NCCK) has said that it is unfortunate the education policy and system is marked by confusion, inequality and injustice even after review.
In a statement read by Canon Chris Kinyanjui during their 65th General Assembly (GA) held in Limuru, Kiambu County, the General Secretary urged the Ministry of Education (MoE) to speedily address the concerns that have been raised regarding the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC).
“The transition to grade 9 next year is still unclear as regards the availability of facilities and teachers in public primary schools. How many classrooms have been constructed to accommodate the learners? How many teachers have been employed to ensure all learners are within the standard teacher-pupil ratio,” he posed.
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The GA was also appalled by the wastage of public funds through multiple scholarship programmes.
“We are convinced that the only reason these scholarships have been set up is to enable the officials to steal the money,” he said.
The GA recommended that all the bursaries and scholarships, which totals to close to Ksh100 billion, be collapsed into a tuition fund that will provide capitation to pave way for free education for all.
The GA also said that there is need to urgently review the proposed university education funding model as it is unjust to have a model that makes education a preserve of the rich.
“The government should engage in comprehensive public participation so as to have a structure that benefits all qualified Kenyans,” they said.
Karanja also read that the MoE and the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) should engage in meaningful dialogue with teachers so as to safeguard the education rights of children.
The GA however demanded the immediate withdrawal of a circular sent to regional and county directors of education directing that all school children must be registered on the Social Health Insurance fund (SHIF).
“We find this to be a backdoor method of pushing Kenyans into the scheme which is yet to be understood and regarding which Kenyans have raised concerns,'” the GA said.
The GA recommended that a comprehensive public participation must be done so that parents can present their views, saying that strategies, however good, must not be forced on Kenyans.
By Felix Wanderi
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