Ministry of, Education, stakeholders in the education sector launch complete End Decade Assessment Report.

By Eric Akasa

Kenya was among the 164 governments at the world education Forum in Dakar Senegal in 2000 that pledged to achieve Education for All (EFA) which identified six goals to be achieved by 2015. Kenya has undertaken the first comprehensive national EFA End Decade Assessment (EDA) since the 2000 Dakar Education Forum covering 2000-2010.

According to Dr. Evangeline Njoka Secretary -General Kenya national commission for UNESCO, goal four and goal five addresses millennium development goals two and three respectively of which Kenya is a signatory to.

“UNESCO has two main priorities which are: gender and Africa,” says Joseph Massaquoi Director UNESCO regional office Eastern Africa representative to Kenya.

“Kenya hosted its first ever Eastern Africa High Level Forum on EFA last September and the outcome documents of the forum was the Mombasa call for Action that includes EFA progress.” Notes Massaquoi “Kenya’s EFA end decade assessment inspires other countries in the region notably Uganda and Tanzania which have commenced similar assessments learning from Kenya’s model.” He adds

According to Hon. Mutual Kilonzo minister for education, the EFA agenda is a global commitment to provide quality basic education for all children, youth and adults from a lifelong perspective, the Dakar Framework for action 2000 re-affirmed the vision set out in the world declaration on education for all conference in Jomtien in 1990.

Commenting on the teachers strike, Hon. Kilonzo said that it is their constitutional right. “I did not get any notice from KNUT or KUPPET about the strike, calling for a strike is not a big issue, it is constitutional,” Says Hon.Kilonzo.

He said that article 41 of the new constitution allows any worker to be a member of a union and can strike whenever they feel their employer is stepping on their rights.

“I have asked the teachers bodies to suspend the strike until I finish the TSC bill which will be through this week.” notes Hon. Kilonzo

Commenting on Tuition Kilonzo said that it is an offence for teachers to tell students go to school during the holidays, on weekends or extra classes and public holidays. “Allow the children to visit their grandparents and play with their peers, understand a child.” Says Hon. Kilonzo.

“I am working on a draft education bill that aims to strengthen student governance, “Let children elect their own leaders, not teachers to dedicate prefects to them.” Remarks Kilonzo. “The future has arrived, education is where the future is and if children develop a sense of ownership of their school, there will be no riots, just involve them and you will solve the problem.” Observes Hon.Kilonzo.

Kilonzo said that the EFA End Decade Assessment is not only a success model but a model that is being replicated within the Eastern Africa region countries

“The timing of the launch of this report ‘Education for All End Decade assessment (2001-20100’ would not have come at a better time and I am happy to note that this is happening when the sector is carrying out education reforms to align itself to the vision 2030 and the constitution 2010. Articles 53, 54, 55 , 56, 57 and 59 of the constitution have provisions on children’s rights to free and compulsory basic education including quality services . no doubt that this report we are launching today is going to be a very important reference document in the education sector and will help address significant issues underscored in the vision 2030 and the constitution 2010 and challenges facing the education sector  in the context of globalization.” Says Hon. Kilonzo.Hon Kilonzo also points out that the report confirms that despite the milestone made by the Ministry, there still remain challenges that may slow down the progress in attaining the EFA goals by 2015. “the challenges include comprehensive data to measure progress , the HIV/AIDS pandemic causing unprecedented strain on education resources and issues of security and long distance to school.” Notes Kilonzo.

In a statement, Hon Margaret Kamar notes that, At this juncture, I would like to reaffirm my Ministry’s commitment to the objective of realizing EFA. I believe that our contributions shall argument and accelerate the achievement of EFA. In line with our mandate my Ministry’s contribution to Education for all will be through the provision of appropriate and life long skills to the Kenyan Youth for sustainable development. Towards this end, and appropriate TIVET curriculum is in place and necessary financial and technical support is being extended to TIVET institutions. I wish to state that the development of TIVET is fundamental in Kenya’s efforts to rid herself of poverty, thus promoting self-worth of the people. TIVET is an essential component of education as it provides skills development for young people and adults. As such, it is provided as part of EFA goal Three. Further, Vision 2030 places great emphasis on science, technology and innovation in general and TIVET in particular as the vehicle for socio-economic and technological transformation in the country. In the recent past, enrolments in TIVET institutions have increased considerably following the introduction of Free Primary and free Day Secondary education.