Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Migos Ogamba has responded to the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops following their criticism of the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC) and university funding.
In a strongly worded statement, Catholic Bishops accused the government of focussing on term limit extensions at the expense of national interests such as the ‘crumbling’ CBC Program.
“We question the motivations behind this agenda and the long-term interests it serves. We strongly condemn this retrogressive and manipulative thinking. Let us not create problems where there are none. We have matters of National concern such as the crumbling CBC education system….”
CS Ogamba dismissed the bishops’ claims that CBC is “crumbling,” defending the government’s commitment to education reform.
The CS explained that CBC, launched in 2017, focuses on developing students’ potential and national values, while equipping them with essential skills.
CBC’s structure was based on extensive public consultations, with input from various stakeholders, including the Catholic Bishops.
According to Ogamba, 93% of the public supported placing Junior Schools in existing primary schools, a change already implemented.
Junior Schools are now preparing for Grade 9. Textbooks have been distributed, and 16,000 classrooms are under construction, funded by KSh 17.6 billion from the government.
The Ministry has already hired 56,950 teachers for Junior Schools, with 66,000 more joining by January 2025.
On university funding, Ogamba defended the Student-Centered Funding Model, introduced in 2023 to ease financial strain on universities.
This model, based on students’ financial needs, has so far provided over KSh 41 billion to two cohorts. President William Ruto has also set up a committee to collect public views on further refining the model.
CS Ogamba urged the Catholic clergy to support these reforms, which impact over 11 million learners. He encouraged collaboration to address challenges in Kenya’s education system.
