2022 polls: Inside William Ruto’s plan for education sector if elected president
Kenya Kwanza Alliance presidential flag bearer William Ruto has pledged radical reforms to revolutionize the education sector if he secures victory in the August 9 general election.
Addressing an education forum at the Catholic University of East Africa (CUEA) on June 23, 2022, Ruto promised to abolish the teacher delocalization policy and replace it with one that appreciates teachers as a national resource.
Through the education charter, Ruto plans to introduce a one to two-year paid National Internship Program for all students graduating from learning institutions through a collaboration scheme with the private sector.
Ruto has also pledged to establish a National Education Fund to mobilise grants, bursaries, and scholarships from private and public sponsors to cater for non-tuition costs.
"To bridge the current higher education funding gap of up to 45 per cent, Kenya Kwanza government will establish National Skill & Funding Council that amalgamate HELB, TVET, and University Funding Board.
"This will immediately double the current Higher Education Loans Board funding from 11 billion to 22 billion and make the HELB loan interest-free," the education charter read.
The Kenya Kwanza Alliance leader has also pledged to establish more Vocational Training Centers in every ward plus ensure every constituency has a Technical Training and Vocational Educational Training Institution (TVET).
Ruto to expand TVET institutions
"Establish and fully equip a Technical Training and Vocational Educational Training Institution in the remaining 52 constituencies within the first two years," the charter states.
In the Basic Education sector, the Kenya Kwanza Alliance government plans to employ 58,000 teachers for Ksh25 billion per year for two years to address the current shortage in the sector that stands at 116,000.
The former Eldoret North MP has promised to provide free sanitary towels for all primary and secondary school going girls on top of ensuring 100 per cent return to school for all teenage girls.
"Allocate sufficient resources to facilitate the implementation of quality education from Early Childhood to University level safeguarding the parent from any cost implications that might arise from the stakeholder engagement recommendations," the charter stated.
Ruto, who previously served as the Minister for Higher Education, has also promised to ensure all children have access to equitable and quality free, early childhood primary and secondary education with 100 per cent transition from each level.
"As part of our effort to ensure access by all children to education, we shall strategically promote the construction of low-cost boarding schools in ASAL areas to accommodate the pastoralist communities," DP Ruto pledged.
Ruto goes slow on scraping CBC
On the current Competency-Based Curriculum, the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) leader has shelved his initial plan to scrap the system and revert to 8-4-4 but he is now open to further public engagements to review it.
"We commit to continue our robust engagement with the public to facilitate the assessment of the current curriculum and education structure towards finding a sustainable solution that will capture the essence of a knowledge-based system," the charter reads.
William Ruto's team has also promised to review the current exam-based system of academic progression to facilitate the seamless academic progression of learners.
