President William Ruto has declared that Kenya’s education sector is now firmly on track, attributing this progress to sweeping reforms in teacher recruitment, the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC) rollout, and overhauled higher education financing.
Speaking on Saturday during the 9th Edition of the Kaptagat Integrated Conservation and Livelihood Improvement Programme, the President said the government had addressed initial challenges with the CBC and is now focused on enhancing its implementation through sustained investment in the teaching workforce.
“We have now sorted out the problems with CBC and made adequate plans,” Ruto stated. “We have employed 76,000 new teachers, and I have included funds in the budget to hire another 24,000.”
He added, “This will bring the total number of new teachers to 100,000—the largest recruitment of teachers in the history of the Republic of Kenya—because education is so important.”
The President underscored the government’s commitment to providing quality education for every child, describing the mass recruitment as a landmark step in resolving teacher shortages nationwide.
On higher education, Ruto assured students that universities and Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions have regained financial stability following the adoption of the Student-Centred Funding Model. He said the model ensures equity and ends previous discriminatory practices in student financing.
Despite criticism that the new funding approach has not fully resolved the financial difficulties facing the higher education sector, Ruto maintained his position that the system represents a step forward.
EduTimes Africa, a product of Education Times Africa, is a magazine publication that aims to lend its support to close the yawning gap in Africa's educational development.