CS Machogu Request Ksh100 M to Train New Teachers Rejected
In opposition to Education Cabinet Secretary Ezekiel Machogu’s request for Ksh100 million to be allocated for the training of new teachers, Parliament instructed him to give precedence to the employment of unemployed graduates.
Machogu was accompanied by Principal Secretaries Esther Muhoria (Technical, Vocational Education and Training – TVET) and Dr. Belio Kipsang (Basic Education) when she appeared before the Parliamentary Committee on Education on Monday.
The CS requested in his submission that the funds be authorized by the Supplementary Budget estimates of the Ministry for the fiscal year 2023/24.
PS Muhoria elaborated that the funds would be utilized to support the training and orientation of recently hired technical and vocational trainers. At the beginning of this year, the government hired approximately one thousand instructors for 144 TVETs.
By President William Ruto’s pledge to alleviate the teacher deficit, the Public Service Commission reaffirmed its intention to hire individuals with degrees and diplomas.
PS Muhoria asserts, nevertheless, that the instructors are deficient in adequate professional teaching abilities and must undergo retraining to augment their capabilities.
The committee, however, dismissed her request in opposition; it was led by Tinderet Member of Parliament Julius Melly.
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“Why should you spend such a huge amount of money on retraining the tutors? The cash should be channeled to equipping the learning institutions or any other useful venture,” MP Melly wondered.
“There are thousands of Kenyans with degrees in various technical subjects and postgraduate diplomas in education. These are the people you need to hire when looking for tutors. There is no need to incur an extra cost in training people,” he further advised.
To compensate for the deficiencies and prevent the expenditure of a substantial amount of money on employing and retraining teachers, CS Machogu assured the members of parliament that his ministry would give preference to candidates with postgraduate education degrees.
In the interim, CS Belio Kipsang, in charge of basic education, requested that the committee persuade the Treasury to increase the Ministry’s total budget by Ksh22 billion to improve the school capitation program.
Kipsang underscored the program’s critical role in supporting secondary institutions and warned that students would be deprived of financial resources.
To take decisive action, the MPs promised to investigate the matter and consult with their Treasury counterparts.
CS Machogu Request Ksh100 M to Train New Teachers Rejected