The Cabinet Secretary for Education, Julius Ogamba, has assured Kenyans that the government is committed to ensuring that every Kenyan child has access to free and quality education.
Speaking at Kimana Girls Secondary School in Kajiado South during the school’s Thanksgiving Day, the CS said that the government remains committed to ensuring that all Kenyan children enrol in school and complete basic education.
He pointed out that free primary and secondary education is a right guaranteed under Article 53 of the constitution, and the government has every intention to continue to uphold this obligation.
The CS called on Members of Parliament and education stakeholders to engage constructively in public discourse around education financing, particularly the contentious debate over capitation grants.
“We are currently looking to ensure that no parent is required to pay any money in relation to Education in the country. We are working towards ensuring that we get the capitation needed for the secondary, junior secondary and primary education. Nobody has ever said that we are reducing the money from Sh22,000 to Sh16,000,” he noted.
He urged leaders to provide solutions to the education sector in the country and seek other funding avenues rather than portraying that the system is broken.
The CS revealed that grade 9 students have already selected their senior schools in preparation for the placement process after the release of their assessment results later this year.
“The Ministry has implemented measures to ensure 100 percent transition at all education levels. Next year, every grade 9 student who sits for the national assessment will transition to grade 10 in senior schools,” said CS Migos
On his part, Kajiado South Member of Parliament Sakimpa Parashina urged his fellow legislators to stop politicising the issue of school capitation, saying that by doing so they are jeopardising the future of the children in Kenya.
The MP also appreciated efforts made by local and international partners, including county governments and non-governmental organisations, in supplementing infrastructure and learning support in rural and underserved areas.
During the visit, the CS commissioned a multipurpose hall, a bakery facility and new classrooms at the school.
By Diana Meneto
