New appointed Education Cabinet Secretary George Magoha has made changes at the ministry and regional offices days after taking over with a warning to non-performing staff.
Speaking at a meeting with regional directors of education, ministry and TSC county directors, Prof Magoha said he would stop at nothing to ensure the Competency-based Curriculum, free learning programmes, increased enrolment and high integrity exams were delivered.
“I am asking lazy staff to either shape up or start packing up,” said the CS, who was accompanied by Chief Administrative Secretary Colleta Suda, Basic Education PS Belio Kipsang and TSC boss Nancy Macharia.
Prof Magoha singled out the Quality Assurance and Standards Directorate, which he said had failed to ensure smooth supervision of all school programmes.
After putting the directorate on the spot, he moved its head, Mr Pius Mutisya, to field services. Dr Mary Gaturu is now the acting director of quality assurance. Until her appointment, she was regional director of education in Rift Valley.
Ms Nereah Olick, the western regional director of education, has been appointed deputy director, primary education.
Dr Sylvester Mulambe, who was a deputy director, is now the director of policy.
Earlier, Prof Magoha was seemingly angered when he walked into the ministry offices and found most employees absent.
Prof. Magoha first day in office pic.twitter.com/ejxpBQ7srw— walter otieno (@otienowalter2) March 28, 2019
Magoha has insisted that his first priority assignment as the Education CS is to implement the new curriculum in the shortest time possible.
The former Education CS Amina Mohammed had suggested holding the reforms on education system until January next year, a move that has been ignored by Magoha.
Amina denied that the system had collapsed or been suspended for lack of money and resources.
She had also told the Senate Education committee chaired by Uasin Gishu Senator Margaret Kamar that the new system, which has been piloted in select schools, had faced many challenges.
They include a lack of necessary infrastructure, enough properly trained teachers and required teaching materials.
“We are not ready to roll out the programme throughout the country. The worst that can happen is to roll out what we are not comfortable with. The design is fantastic, but the devil is in the details of implementation,” Amina told the committee. It was attended by senators Sam Ongeri (Kisii), Okong’o Omogeni (Nyamira) and John Kinyua (Laikipia).
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