President William Ruto’s nominee to the position of Cabinet Secretary in charge of Education Julius Migosi (pictured)  yesterday said he supports the domiciling of the Junior Secondary School (JSS) in primary schools.

While appearing before the Committee on Appointments, Migosi however clarified that if the model will not work, he was ready to make changes in the interest of the learners.

He said: “If we have a problem in the education sector we have to get a solution. No grade 9 learner will be out of school. Domiciling JSS in primary school is the best, however I am ready to take the decision that is in the best interest of the children of Kenya.”

Migosi who is worth Sh790 million comprising parcels of land, tea farms and motor vehicles said that he is ready to take up his new job and will not operate under the shadows of former Cabinet Secretary Ezekiel Machogu disclosed that he will be pushing for more funds to go towards the education sector in order to ensure that learners get the best education.

He argued that while underfunding in education is the biggest challenge, he will also be recommending that an audit be done to determine how students may need to be supported by the government.

Education sector

He said: “The main problem in the education sector is funding. Each and any problem in the education sector is funding as there is no sufficient money to cover all the children and problem.”

He added; “There is no clear audit to find out how many students we need to cover and how many organisations have given assistance to children. I would take up the challenge and work with stakeholders to ensure that everything is working.”

As to why he is taking up the job yet he has never worked in public service and is only three years away from retiring, he clarified that in his line of duty which is the legal profession, he has been able to interact with public organisations and thus he has knowledge of how public service works.

He said: “The job that I have been doing as that of an advocate of the high court. I have been able to interact with public institutions and therefore I have knowledge on this front.”

His sentiments came after MPs sitting in the committee on Appointments chaired by Speaker Moses Wetangula sought to know if he was aware of what he was getting into.

Wetangula who sought to know how he will navigate the sector said that the committee has received one memorandum against him.

Leader of Minority Junet Mohammed sought to know how he will deal with the education sector which has in the recent past faced a number of challenges.

He said: “I hope you know what you are getting into. The Ministry of Education is a big ministry that is all over the country. There is a new curriculum that was introduced and is giving parents a lot of challenges because they don’t understand and the children too don’t understand it.”

He added “We also have the new university funding model, it looks like it’s not working and has refused to work, how will you deal with this.”