By Staff Reporter
Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (KICD) acting Chief Executive Officer, Dr Joel Mabonga has sent six top managers on compulsory leave.
Those sent on seven months compulsory leave include Ruth Mugambi, secondary education deputy director, Solomon Kathuo, Deputy Director, Finance, Olive Mbuthia, Director of Primary Education, and Emmanuel Mulwa, Deputy Director Human Resources.
Others are Emily Sila, Deputy Director, Resource centre and John Kimotho, Senior Director, Media.
The move has drawn the wrath of human rights body which has written to the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) after corruption allegations.
The Ministry of Education advertised the position of CEO at the institution this week.
There are allegations of manipulation of evaluation of Competence-Based Curriculum (CBC) Grade 5 textbooks that the lobby claims resulted in losses. A tender worth Sh1.7 billion was awarded to textbook suppliers in July.
The quarrel at the institution comes when the country is on top gear in implementing CBC.
KICD is also expected to offer online learning as the schools remain closed due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The e-learning project offered through radio and television, among other channels, has received a boost after donors gave Sh 1.2 billion.
Meanwhile, Safaricom’s new study has found that learners in basic education institutions prefer online content offered by other platforms to that of KICD.Longhorn Publishers, Shupavu 291, and Viusasa recorded high uptake compared to KICD, the study shows.
Almost half of the learners said they use their parents’ phones to access digital learning content- 46.5 percent use mothers’ phones compared to 17.3 percent that uses their dad’s phone.
Rift Valley had the most significant number of learners using Safaricom’s education bundles at 29 percent, Nairobi 23 percent, and Mt Kenya at 21 percent.
