No Issues in Grade 10 Senior School Selection, Says Education Ministry
The Cabinet Secretary for Education, Migos Ogamba, has assured the nation that the process of selecting senior schools for current Grade 9 students is proceeding smoothly.
Ogamba made this statement following the successful creation of transition and placement guidelines by the Ministry in collaboration with various stakeholders.
He has instructed all junior school heads to engage their career advisors to work with parents of Grade 9 students, ensuring they have the necessary information to help guide these students in making informed choices.
During the graduation ceremony for 353 teachers at the Tambach TTC in Elgeyo Marakwet County, Ogamba expressed satisfaction with the smooth transition process for students moving from junior to senior school next year.
He highlighted that the graduates were the first group trained under the Competency-Based Teacher Education (CBTE) program, which aims to prepare teachers who are knowledgeable, skilled, reflective, and responsive to the evolving needs of 21st-century learners.
“The National Education Sector Strategic Plan (NESSP) 2023-2027 emphasizes the need to retrain all teacher educators for the effective implementation of the CBTE curriculum,” he stated.
Acknowledging the crucial role teachers play in implementing Competency-Based Education, the CS affirmed the Ministry’s commitment to ensuring that all teacher training institutions are well-equipped to provide quality education to future teachers.
He praised the college for its accomplishments in various co-curricular activities, which he noted are vital to a well-rounded education. Under the CBTE framework, learning extends beyond the classroom to include activities that build resilience and essential qualities in the teaching profession.
“The diverse and inclusive learning areas and co-curricular activities offered under the CBTE create opportunities for teacher trainees to identify and leverage various environments to deliver the curriculum effectively,” he remarked.
While promising the Ministry’s support for the college’s infrastructure development, the CS urged the board to supplement government funding by exploring income-generating activities to support key priority areas.
He encouraged the board to continue collaborating with stakeholders and partners, such as the NG-CDF, the county government, and other benefactors, to enhance infrastructure development.
Ogamba noted that the government has allocated a total recurrent grant of 31.4 million shillings to the college over three financial years from 2022/2023 to 2024/2025, emphasizing the board’s critical role in ensuring financial transparency, accountability, and resource management.
“It is therefore crucial to maintain internal controls and timely financial reporting in accordance with the approved International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS) for government financial reporting,” he stated.
In response to calls from leaders to upgrade the college to a university, the CS mentioned that the Ministry is awaiting an assessment from the Commission for University Education (CUE) and expressed the government’s desire to establish a specialized university in the region.
The event was also attended by Principal Secretary (PS) Finance Dr. Chris Kiptoo, PS Forest Gitonga Mugambi, Governor Wisley Rotich, area MP Adams Kipsanai, and other dignitaries.
