- Quality Assurance and Standards Officers support proposals giving school inspectors a clearer statutory enforcement mandate.
- They want Clauses 64–66 retained while Parliament considers changes to Kenya’s inspection framework.
- The officers are also seeking clearer career structures, stronger representation and adequately resourced inspectorate structures.
Quality Assurance and Standards Officers (QASOs) have welcomed proposed changes to Kenya’s school inspection framework under the Basic Education Bill, 2026, saying the reforms would give inspectors a clearer legal mandate to enforce education standards.
The officers are particularly supporting Clauses 64, 65 and 66, which they say provide the statutory foundation for a stronger school inspection function. QASOs have publicly urged Parliament to retain the provisions without dilution during the legislative process.
Under the proposals, the current quality-assurance function would be anchored more firmly in law, with officers expected to oversee compliance in areas including curriculum implementation, examinations, school governance, financial management and other prescribed education standards.
The proposed shift in designation from Quality Assurance and Standards Officers to Inspectors of Schools is also being viewed by the officers as recognition of the enforcement component of their work.
QASOs have argued that they have for years identified gaps in schools, prepared reports and made recommendations, but have faced limitations in enforcing compliance.
They are now calling on Parliament to retain Clauses 64–66 without dilution as the Bill undergoes public participation and parliamentary scrutiny.
The officers are further seeking clear regulations governing the inspectorate, a defined career structure and stronger representation in County Education Boards, particularly when matters concerning school standards, registration, inspection and compliance are being considered.
They also want the law to provide inspectors with greater powers to intervene where schools are considered unsafe or seriously congested, including the ability to recommend or facilitate closure without lengthy referral procedures.
Another demand is the establishment of an independent and professionally structured Inspectorate of Schools capable of operating with adequate resources and clear accountability.
Inspection framework under review
The inspection proposals form part of wider efforts to reform Kenya’s basic education legal framework.
The existing Basic Education Act already provides quality-assurance officers with powers to enter institutions, inspect records, examine facilities and recommend temporary suspension of operations where minimum standards are not met.
Earlier reform proposals have also sought to strengthen the institutional basis for quality assurance. The 2024 Basic Education Bill, for example, proposed a Directorate of Quality Assurance and Standards within the State Department responsible for Basic Education, with functions including curriculum monitoring, examination oversight, governance audits and financial-management reviews.
The current legislative process therefore comes against a longer-running debate over how inspection, quality assurance and enforcement should be structured within the education system.
Among other proposals, the wider education reform process is examining school governance, learner protection, special-needs education and institutional accountability.
The legislation remains at Bill stage and is subject to public participation, committee consideration, debate and possible amendment before enactment.
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QASOs say a strong inspection framework is essential to ensuring that reforms contained in the proposed law translate into improved standards, accountability and learner safety in schools.
ByOur Reporter
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