Former KNUT boss Sossion wants audit of education ministry

Former Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) Secretary-General, Wilson Sossion, has called for a thorough audit of the Ministry of Education to tackle corruption and ensure that funds allocated to education are effectively utilized.

Speaking on the state of the education sector, during an interview on K24 TV, Sossion emphasized the importance of accountability and transparency to deliver equitable and quality education for all Kenyan children.

Sossion said that despite significant budgetary allocations to education amounting to Sh650 billion, which surpasses UNESCO’s recommendations of 6 percent of GDP and 15 percent of the national budget, there still remains gaps in funding of education.

“I’ve pointed out the gap that has persisted is as a result of lack of thorough audit in education. All these monies must be audited so that then we can weed out flagships of corruption, abuse of procurement procedures, and of course, lack of proper utility,” he said.

“We must ensure these funds give value to learners by eliminating corruption and mismanagement in procurement and utility,” he said.

The ministry of education was allocated Sh 656.6 billion funding for the 2023/2024 financial year which is an increase from Sh 544.4 billion in the 2022/2023 financial year. The main concern remains, why is the ministry having shortage on teachers, classrooms and textbook across schools in the world.

The former KNUT leader also lauded the Kenya Kwanza administration’s commitment to education, noting its adherence to promises outlined in the Education Charter signed by President William Ruto on June 23, 2022.

This commitment, he said, includes investments in basic education, universities, and infrastructure development. However, Sossion pointed out that ongoing challenges, such as delays in disbursing funds to schools and inadequate teacher training, continue to hinder progress.

“The Cabinet Secretary for Education has issued directives to ensure timely disbursement of capitation funds, with 50 percent allocated in the first term, 30 percent in the second term, and 20 percent in the third term. Treasury must release these funds promptly to enable schools to plan and procure essential learning materials,” Sossion urged.

He also underscored the need for a robust inspectorate system to oversee how funds are spent in schools. He stated that treasury should always release this money promptly before schools open to enable schools to plan, to enable schools to procure.

“Inspectors must ensure that learning materials are delivered, repairs and maintenance are completed, desks are provided, and new classrooms are built. This accountability is essential to achieve the government’s goal of delivering quality education,” he added.

Addressing the transition to the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC), Sossion acknowledged the government’s efforts to build additional classrooms for junior secondary students. However, he admitted that the progress has been slower than expected, with some classrooms still incomplete despite President Ruto’s directive for their readiness by January.

Sossion highlighted the pressing issue of teacher shortages and the lack of training for educators in new learning areas. While the government has employed more teachers than ever before, reaching 76,000 under the Kenya Kwanza administration, the gap remains significant.