Basic Education Principal Secretary Julius Bitok has urged senators to intensify oversight of county governments to protect the quality of pre-primary education, with teacher welfare highlighted as a critical concern.
Speaking during the Fifth Session Planning Retreat in Naivasha on Friday, Bitok emphasised that while Kenya has achieved notable progress in enrolment, foundational learning remains fragile due to persistent weaknesses at the Early Childhood Development Education (ECDE) level
Bitok revealed that pre-primary enrolment currently stands at 94.2 per cent, yet learning outcomes remain low.
“Three in 10 Grade Six learners are unable to solve Grade Three mathematics, and nearly half struggle to comprehend a Grade Three English text,” he said, stressing the need to shift focus from enrolment numbers to quality learning.
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While the national government has expanded classroom capacity, boosted teacher numbers, and ensured timely capitation payments, the PS noted that ECDE under county control faces the largest gaps. He cited delayed salaries, lack of pensions, and casualised contracts for ECDE teachers as major obstacles.
“An unhappy teacher cannot nurture a child’s mind. We must harmonise schemes of service and move away from short-term contracts that undermine professionalism,” he emphasized.
Bitok warned that inadequate support for teachers translates into poor learning outcomes for pupils. In some regions, children still learn under trees or in dilapidated structures, while disparities in school feeding programmes create inequality, with access to meals depending on the county. He proposed a national-county framework to ensure that every ECDE learner receives at least one fortified meal daily.
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The PS also urged stronger coordination between national and county governments, calling for a uniform curriculum, equitable resource allocation, and full rollout of the Kenya Education Management Information System to track learners from early years. He highlighted that the education budget has reached a record Sh700 billion but still faces a Sh111 billion gap needed to fully fund free primary education, school feeding, and national assessments.
Senators were asked to support the proposed Basic Education (Amendment) Bill, 2025, which seeks to clarify roles between national and county governments and improve sector coordination. “Your oversight is the bridge between a child’s potential and their reality. By holding counties accountable, you ensure funds meant for our youngest learners reach the classroom,” Bitok stated.
By Masaki Enock
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