The Ministry of Education has rolled out its 4th National Education Sector Strategic Plan (NESSP) which will cost Ksh5.2 trillion.
According to Cabinet Secretary Ezekiel Machogu, the five-year roadmap spells out policy priorities, programmes and strategies for the education sector over the next five years.
Speaking during the launch at Kenya School of Government (KSG) in Lower Kabete, Nairobi, the CS said the government will provide Ksh3.47 trillion while the remaining Ksh1.55 trillion will be outsourced from development partners.
He appealed to stakeholders to collaborate to actualize the plans highlighted in the roadmap that focuses on providing quality education and producing highly globally competitive and industrious learners.
NESSP further guides the Ministry in providing access, equity, and quality education and training to the citizens for the period.
Among the policy issues, the plan will also address access and participation in education, equity and inclusivity education quality and relevance and education governance and accountability among others.
The Constitution of Kenya 2010, underscores the provision of quality education and training as a right and a fundamental to the success of the government’s overall development strategies.
The plan cuts across the three state departments covering programmes from pre-primary to university.
KEY PRIORITIES
Key priorities outlined by NESSP in basic education include; the construction of 16,000 classrooms, employment of 116,000 teachers on both permanent and construct, retooling teachers on CBC, and providing six million learners with school meals.
Other areas are automation of assessment, curriculum, implementation of the Kenya Education Management Information System (KEMIS), construction/rehabilitation of Teacher Training Centres (TTC) and establishment of Education Assessment Resource Centres (EARC). The Ministry also intends to undertake a school census.
TVETS and Universities
Key areas listed for TVETS are;
- Increase access to TVET by construction and equipping of TVET institutions in constituencies
- Recruit 2,000 technical trainers and instructors
- Automation and skills development (digital labs)
- Establishing incubation centres in every TVET institutions
- Implement competency-based education and training (CBET)
Universities and Research
- Expand the Open University of Kenya
- Implementation of New Higher Education Financing Model
- Develop and roll out Tertiary CBET in Universities
- Strengthening University-Industry linkages
- Research Funding
Reforms
NESSP also aims to roll out reforms outlined in the report of the Presidential Working Party on Education Reforms and also review all laws governing education from Pre-primary to Tertiary to remove overlaps and ambiguities.
The HELB Act is set to be repealed while the Student Bursaries Act, Education Appeals Tribunal Act, Tertiary Placement and Funding Act will be enacted.
Other laws to be considered for amendment are the Basic Education Act, KICD Act, TSC Act, KNEC Act, TVETA Act and Universities Act.
The CS in February during the presentation on the Draft National Education Sector Strategic Plan (NESSP) 2023-2027 told stakeholders that the ministry had aligned its strategies, activities and budget with the national government to improve efficiency.
He said the document was quite inclusive since it brought together strategic partners and development partners, who made contributions on the way forward in achieving key targets.
