The National Assembly Education Committee has conducted a public participation exercise in Kisii county on the Basic Education Bill 2026 and five other proposed bills aimed at transforming Kenya’s education sector.
Speaking after the exercise at the Kisii National Polytechnic in Kisii town, the Committee’s Chairperson and Tinderet MP Julius Melly noted the education stakeholders had proposed key recommendations on the composition of school boards and other relevant boards including the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development.
“One of the major issues that came out is how to mainstream the basic education management, from primary, junior and senior schools,” Melly said.
He added that stakeholders also called for stronger participation in the boards of management of schools, colleges and education institutions.
His Baringo North counterpart, Joseph Makilap noted that some of the parents had proposed the reintroduction of corporal punishment in schools whereas the bill prohibits any form of corporal punishment.
Makilap also pointed out the clash between the teachers’ unions Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) and Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) on the classification of basic education as well as the proposal on the merger of all colleges into one institution.
“KUPPET is proposing the classification of basic education to include the pre-primary, primary, junior school and senior school while KNUT is proposing pre-primary, comprehensive school and senior school,” he noted.
The MP encouraged the stakeholders to continue interacting with the proposed bills and share their views with the committee for review and consideration.
On his part, Kisii County Parents Teachers Association (PTA) Chairman Captain Francis Omayo called for the establishment of a fund to support the associations which is recognized in the Funding Act.
Omayo also proposed the introduction of capitation to private primary and secondary schools and called for the involvement of parents at all levels of education.
Further, he opposed the merger of colleges into one institution saying that it would pose significant challenges including compromising on the quality of education.
“As parents, we select colleges because of the niche they have cut in terms of innovativeness and creativity, but if we are going to make the teacher training colleges to become one then we are likely to promote complacency,” said Omayo.
The other bills before the public including the Tertiary Education, Placement and Funding Bill, Pre-Service Education and In-Service Training Bill, 2026; Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (Amendment) Bill, 2026; Kenya National Educational Assessments Council Bill, 2026; and Kenya National Qualifications Framework (Amendment) Bill, 2026.
by Mercy Osongo
