Members of Kenyan Parliament Disagree on Creation of New Department at Education Ministry

Some members of Parliament in Kenya have questioned the creation of a new department to spearhead curriculum reforms under the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC) terming it unnecessary.

In a heated debate in the House, a section of the MPs opposed the appointment of Prof Fatuma Chege as the new Principal Secretary for state department for the implementation of curriculum reforms in the Ministry of Education.

This is despite the House committee on education and research chaired by Busia Women Rep Florence Mutua tabling a report in parliament and recommenfing her appointment.

The report reads in part “The committee recommends that this house approves the nomination of Prof Fatuma Chege, PhD, for the appointment of the position of Principal Secretary for state department for the implementation of curriculum reforms in the Ministry of Education,”.

Uriri MP Mark Nyamita opposed the appointment saying that the Ministry of Education already has the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (KICD) which is a fully-fledged institution and deals with curriculum reforms.

The current Education Chief Administrative Secretary (CAS) Dr Sarah Ruto was also a former chair at the KICD before her appointment.

Nyamita said the President should instead consider reorganizing the Ministry of Education instead of creating a new department.

Suba East MP Junet Mohamed also questioned the appointment stating that there was no need for an additional state department to do a specific duty which can be done by the existing state department.

However, some MPs supported her appointment but faulted the implementation of the new curriculum in the country.

Majority leader Amos Kimunya moved a motion to postpone the debate saying the House needs to interrogate the issues further. National Assembly Speaker Justin Muturi adjoined the debate to resume at a later date.

President Uhuru Kenyatta created the new department and appointed Prof Chege to spearhead the implementation of the new curriculum in the country.

Currently the implementation of the curriculum is at Grade Four. Grade Five is set to be rolled out in July when third term is set to start.

Before her appointment Prof Chege, chaired the CBC taskforce committee and was the deputy vice chancellor in charge of administration at the Kenyatta University.