Committee on Education Engages CS Machogu and Other Ministry Officials Over Supplementary Estimates

The Departmental Committee on Education, chaired by Hon. Julius Melly (Tinderet), conducted a consultative meeting today with Education Cabinet Secretary Ezekiel Machogu to discuss the Ministry’s Supplementary Budget estimates for the current financial year.

CS Machogu, accompanied by Principal Secretaries Esther Muhoria Technical, Vocational Education and Training (TVET) and Dr. Belio Kipsang (Basic Education), engaged with Members of the House team on the First Supplementary Estimates for the 2023/2024 financial year for their respective departments.

Among the key issues discussed during the submissions, PS Muhoria informed the lawmakers that the Department requires a budget of Kshs.100 million for the induction and training of newly recruited Vocational and Technical Trainers (tutors). This statement however raised concerns among Committee Members.

“Why should you spend such a huge amount of money in retraining the tutors? The cash should be channeled to equipping the learning institutions or any other useful venture,” remarked Hon. Melly.

In response, PS Muhoria explained that most of the tutors lack sufficient teaching professional skills, which necessitated the training to enhance their capacity.

“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,” advised the chairperson.

CS Machogu reassured the Committee that, in the future, they will clarify that applicants for teaching positions in Technical Training Institutes (TTIs) must possess a postgraduate training in education.

During the afternoon session, PS Kipsang appealed to the committee for assistance in obtaining an additional Kshs.22 billion, which is a shortfall in their budget for the school capitation program. He emphasized that this additional funding is essential for the proper operation of secondary institutions.

The Committee assured the PS of its support and urged him to pursue the matter with his counterparts at the Treasury.

Teachers Service Commission (TSC) CEO Nancy Macharia and Higher Education PS Beatrice Inyangala are scheduled to appear before the Committee tomorrow afternoon to provide insights on the Supplementary estimates of their respective departments.