CS Machogu to Hold School Heads Accountable for Fund Usage.
Education Cabinet Secretary Ezekiel Machogu has announced a significant shift in how school funds will be monitored. School principals will now be directly accountable to Parliamentary committees, addressing any concerns about their school’s financial management. This move redefines schools as independent audit units, eliminating the previous practice where the Education Cabinet Secretary or Principal Secretary answered these queries on their behalf.
Machogu emphasized that this new system marks a major change in accountability. School principals will now face parliamentary committees directly, a move aimed at increasing transparency and responsibility in school fund management. As a result, he warned headteachers against imposing unauthorized levies, stating that severe consequences await those who violate these guidelines.
At the closing of the Secondary School Heads conference in Mombasa, attended by 8,000 members of the Kenya Secondary School Head Teachers Association (KESSHA), Machogu reiterated the government’s stance on prohibiting the withholding of National Examination Council Certificates due to unpaid school fees. He argues that all principals must adhere strictly to this policy and ensure that no student faces unfair penalties.
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Machogu highlighted the government’s regulations on school fees, stating that the government has clearly defined the maximum allowable fees for each school level. Additionally, he cautioned headteachers against introducing any illegal levies and emphasized the need to comply with existing policies. Ultimately, this crackdown aims to ensure that schools do not burden parents and guardians with unexpected and unauthorized charges.
A comprehensive review of the education sector’s legal and policy framework is in the works, with plans to submit it to Parliament before the end of the year. This review includes a draft session paper and 13 Bills designed to implement the recommendations of the Presidential working party on educational reform. These changes are expected to bring significant improvements to the education system.
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The CS also outlined reforms in the computation of the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) examination. The new system will calculate the mean score based on English or Kiswahili or sign language, mathematics, and five other subjects. This change aims to enhance the accuracy and fairness of the examination process, leading to better performance and increased entry requirements.
Machogu detailed that senior secondary schools will offer three pathways under the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC): Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics (STEM), Social Science, Arts, and Sports Science. Consequently, these pathways are designed to provide students with diverse options, catering specifically to their interests and strengths.
During the 47th National Kenya Secondary School Association (KESSHA) conference, principals recommended that the Kenya National Examination Council (KNEC) should operate independently. This recommendation aims to prevent state interference and ensure accountability in examination processes, further promoting the integrity of the education system.
CS Machogu’s announcement ushers in a new era of accountability and reform in Kenya’s education sector. Moreover, the government enhances transparency and fairness by holding school principals directly answerable to Parliament and introducing stringent measures against unauthorized levies. Furthermore, the upcoming educational reforms and changes in examination computation will improve the quality of education and provide students with better opportunities.
CS Machogu to Hold School Heads Accountable for Fund Usage.
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