The Cabinet Secretary for education Migos Ogamba, has assured the country that the exercise of making senior school choices for the current Grade 9 learners is going on without a hitch.
Ogamba said this follows the successful development of transition and placement guidelines by the Ministry together with all stakeholders.
The CS therefore has directed all heads of junior schools to activate their career masters to work with parents of grade 9 learners to ensure they have the right information to guide the candidates on making the right choices.
Speaking during the graduation ceremony for 353 teachers at the Tambach TTC in Elgeyo Marakwet County, the CS said the Ministry was impressed that the process of transitioning learners from junior to senior school next year is going on smoothly.
Noting that the graduates were the first cohort under the Competency-Based Teacher Education (CBTE), Ogamba said their training was designed to prepare teachers who are not only knowledgeable but also skilled, reflective and responsive to the dynamic needs of the 21st-century learners.
“The National Education Sector Strategic Plan (NESSP) 2023-2027 calls for the retooling of all teacher educators for the effective implementation of the CBTE curriculum,” he said.
Noting the importance of teachers in the ongoing implementation of the Competency Based Education, the CS said the ministry was committed to ensuring that all teacher training institutions were well equipped to deliver quality education to teacher trainees.
He commended the college for its achievement in a wide range of co-curricular activities, which he said formed an important component of a complete education, saying under the CBTE, learning is not confined to the classroom but extends to co-curricular activities that foster resilience and invaluable qualities in the teaching profession.
“The diverse and inclusive range of learning areas and co-curricular activities offered under the CBTE provides an opportunity for the development of teacher trainees who can identify and utilise opportunities to deliver the curriculum in different learning environments,” he said.
While pledging the Ministry’s support in the development of the college’s infrastructure, the CS called on the board to complement the government’s funding by exploring income-generating activities that can be used to generate funds towards the key priority areas.
He urged the board to continue collaborating with stakeholders and partners such as the NG-CDF, the county government and other well-wishers to enhance its infrastructural development.
Noting that the government had disbursed a total recurrent grant of sh. 31.4 million to the college in three financial years from 2022/2023 to 2024/2025, Ogamba emphasised the board’s significant oversight role in ensuring prudent financial transparency, accountability and management of the college’s resources.
“Consequently, it is essential to uphold internal controls and timely financial reporting using the approved International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS) model of government financial reporting system,” he said.
Responding to leaders on the calls to upgrade the college to a university, the CS said the Ministry was awaiting an assessment from the Commission for University Education (CUE) adding that it was the wish of the government to have a specialized university in the area.
The function was also attended by Principal Secretary (PS) Finance Dr Chris Kiptoo, PS Forest Gitonga Mugambi, Governor Wisley Rotich and area MP Adams Kipsanai, among other dignitaries.
By Alice Wanjiru
