Government reaffirms commitment to education

The government has committed to strengthening the education sector through increased funding, improved infrastructure and enhanced teacher recruitment as part of efforts to provide every Kenyan learner with access to quality and inclusive education.

Deputy President Prof. Kithure Kindiki said the government had allocated Sh784.5 billion to the education sector in the 2026/2027 financial year, the largest allocation in the national budget, to support the implementation of Competency-Based Education (CBE), digital learning, school infrastructure and equitable access to education.

In a speech read on his behalf by Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba during the 40th anniversary and annual prize-giving ceremony of St. George’s Girls Secondary School in Nairobi, Kindiki said education remains the country’s greatest investment and the foundation for sustainable national development.

Kindiki conveyed President William Ruto’s congratulations to the school community for four decades of academic excellence, resilience and distinguished service to the nation.

“Education remains the greatest investment any nation can make in its future. Every classroom we build, every teacher we recruit and every learner we support is an investment in Kenya’s long-term prosperity,” Kindiki said.

He noted that the government was steadily implementing Competency-Based Education (CBE) to nurture creativity, innovation, critical thinking and problem-solving skills while investing in digital infrastructure to prepare learners for the modern economy.

Kindiki said the government was also implementing interventions under the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA) to strengthen food security, affordable healthcare, housing, digital transformation and job creation so that young people graduate into a society with greater opportunities.

While noting that Kenya has achieved a 98.5 percent primary school completion rate for girls, Kindiki observed that completion at the lower secondary level remains at 84.4 percent due to challenges such as poverty, teenage pregnancy and other social barriers.

He said the Government would continue supporting affirmative action programmes, scholarships and the re-entry policy for adolescent mothers to ensure that every girl has an opportunity to complete her education.

Kindiki praised St. George’s Girls Secondary School for its contribution to girls’ education since its establishment in 1986, saying the institution had produced thousands of women who have excelled in education, healthcare, law, business, science, technology and public service.

He commended the school’s support for vulnerable learners through the Girl Child Trust Fund and partnerships with the Government and development partners, saying no deserving learner should be left behind.

Speaking after delivering the Deputy President’s speech, Ogamba appealed to parents to take a more active role in raising their children following recent cases of unrest witnessed in some schools across the country.

He said while investigations into the causes of student indiscipline were ongoing, parents, teachers and the community must work together to nurture responsible and disciplined learners.

“Our children are our greatest investment. They need our time, guidance and presence because character is the foundation of success,” he said.

Ogamba announced that the Government would provide resources for the construction of a multipurpose hall, additional classrooms and workshops at the school to support Competency-Based Education.

He further announced that the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) would immediately deploy four additional teachers to begin addressing the school’s staffing shortage, adding that the Government would work with the area Member of Parliament to facilitate the acquisition of a 67-seater school bus.

The Cabinet Secretary also urged students joining universities through the Kenya Universities and Colleges Central Placement Service (KUCCPS) to utilise the ongoing course and institution revision window where necessary.

Teachers Service Commission Chairman Dr. Jamleck Muturi lauded St. George’s Girls for maintaining academic excellence over the past four decades, describing the anniversary as the beginning of an even greater chapter for the institution.

Muturi called on parents, teachers and other stakeholders to work together in molding learners’ character, saying academic achievement without values would not produce responsible citizens.

He urged parents to spend more quality time with their children, noting that young people require guidance, mentorship and emotional support more than material wealth.

The TSC chair also cautioned learners against the misuse of social media and appealed to parents to monitor the content their children access online.

On teacher welfare, Muturi said the government had employed more than 100,000 teachers, promoted over 270,000 teachers, and would next week advertise the promotion of more than 34,000 teachers.

He added that funds had been set aside to convert 10,000 teachers to permanent and pensionable terms and encouraged eligible teachers to apply for promotion opportunities.

Muturi assured the school that TSC would work closely with the Ministry of Education to address the staffing gap, saying a motivated teacher is key to improving learning outcomes and sustaining academic excellence.

The ceremony brought together education stakeholders, parents, alumni, students and government officials to celebrate the school’s 40-year contribution to girls’ education and recognise outstanding academic performers.

By Aron Kinyamasyo