Kaimenyi faulted on non-formal schools guidelines
What you need to know:
- They said despite a consultative forum between them and the CS at Egerton University in March 2014 which came up with several suggestions on the running of Alternative Provision of Basic Education and Training (APBET) schools, Prof Kaimenyi went ahead to give his own regulations.
- According to Mr Anthony Mugodo who is the director of Legal services at Bridge International Academies which runs 405 informal low cost schools in the country, the Egerton meeting also agreed that the schools be given three years to have 50 per cent of their teachers registered with the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) but the new guidelines are contrary to that agreement.
As section of education stakeholders now want an immediate review of non-formal schools guidelines released in June this year.
The players including the Kenya Independent Schools Association (Kisa) and members of the parliamentary Committee on Education faulted Education Cabinet Secretary (CS) Prof Jacob Kaimenyi for releasing a different set of rules as opposed to what was agreed last year.
They said despite a consultative forum between them and the CS at Egerton University in March 2014 which came up with several suggestions on the running of Alternative Provision of Basic Education and Training (APBET) schools, Prof Kaimenyi went ahead to give his own regulations.
“The new guidelines will force the closure of informal schools leaving 2.6 million learners out of school,” said Kisa chairman Mr George Mikwa.
He added that the APBET guidelines released by Prof Kaimenyi do not apply nationwide and are only applicable in seven former municipalities of Nairobi, Kisumu, Mombasa, Nakuru, Eldoret, Kitale, and Thika leaving schools in other areas at risk of being closed down.
“We have written three times to the CS asking for a consultative forum to discuss the matter but we have not gotten any reply,” he added while speaking on Tuesday at a Nairobi hotel during a forum bringing together the different stakeholders.
CONTRARY TO AGREEMENT
According to Mr Anthony Mugodo who is the director of Legal services at Bridge International Academies which runs 405 informal low cost schools in the country, the Egerton meeting also agreed that the schools be given three years to have 50 per cent of their teachers registered with the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) but the new guidelines are contrary to that agreement.
“In the new guidelines, teachers in the APBET schools have not been given any grace period and the schools therefore risk closure,” he said.
“Stakeholders were not consulted in the changing of key provisions that are a departure from the consultative process agreed upon at the Egerton University,” added Mr Mugodo.
Kibra MP Ken Okoth who is a member of the education committee said the legislators would push for an amendment to the Basic Education Act to enshrine the informal schools in the law.
“They (informal schools) provide quality and very affordable education to poor households especially those in informal settlements,” he added.
National Assembly Majority Leader Aden Duale who also spoke during the forum asked the stakeholders to present their memorandum to the National Assembly for possible change to the Basic Education Act.
Stakeholders said the informal schools also known as harambee schools have an enrolment of about 1.5 million learners from needy households while another 1.1 million learners access early childhood education in APBET schools.
