Government to Implement new Policies to Improve Education Sector

Recent education reforms in Kenya are primarily focused on overhauling the current system to better align with the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC). Some of the key changes recommended by the Presidential Working Party on Education Reforms include:

Scrapping School Categories: The traditional categorization of secondary schools (National, Extra County, County, and Sub-County) will be abolished. Instead, schools will be categorized based on career pathways for learners under the CBC system​.

Curriculum Adjustments: The Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) will be renamed the Kenya National Assessment Council (KNAC). Subject choices will be aligned with career paths, allowing students to choose combinations like English or Kiswahili, Maths or Science, and additional subjects based on their interests and career goals​.

Streamlined Subject Load: The Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (KICD) is tasked with reducing the number of learning areas. For example, Junior School subjects will be reduced from 14 to 9​.

University Education Reforms: Universities will no longer offer Certificate and Diploma courses. Additionally, the appointment of university officials will now be managed by university councils rather than the Public Service Commission. Funding for university education will adopt a new model combining grants, loans, and household contributions​.

Teacher Service Commission (TSC) Reforms: The TSC's powers will be limited to the employment and remuneration of teachers, removing its regulatory functions. Teachers will now undergo a mandatory one-year internship before registration and a one-year retooling program to ensure they are CBC-compliant​.

Bursary and Scholarship Coordination: A centralized body, the Kenya Basic Education Bursaries and Scholarship Council, will handle all bursaries and scholarships to streamline funding and ensure equity​.

These reforms aim to enhance the quality, inclusiveness, and relevance of education in Kenya, aligning the system more closely with the needs of learners and the job market.