The Government will start paying dues owed to examiners of the 2022 Kenya National Examination Council (KNEC) national examinations, Education CS Ezekiel Machogu has said.

CS Machogu said the Sh. 2 billion had been set aside for that purpose to ensure all outstanding dues were paid to the KNEC examiners, contracted officials, and suppliers.

Speaking on Saturday at Kangaru School in Manyatta Constituency, Embu, during the inaugural Education Day by area MP Gitonga Mukunji, the CS said going forward his ministry will prioritize prompt payment to examiners to ensure no such delays will be experienced again.

He said the delay was occasioned by a cash crunch at the council that forced it to maintain the pending bill for over six months from the time the exercise was completed.

Machogu said they had already started paying contractors who undertook the construction of Competence Based Curriculum (CBC) classes their dues amounting to Sh. 2.5 billion.

He at the same time said the ministry will be employing 25,000 teachers this financial year in addition to the 30,000 employed last year to reduce the student-teacher ratio.

‘We are committed to keep improving the quality of our education by ensuring we have enough teachers in our schools,’ he said

He hailed the program initiated by the MP that will see learners in secondary school given career guidance and counseling by various stakeholders and professionals as a game changer in shaping the future career paths of young minds.

The CS called on other constituencies to follow suit to equip students with career knowledge early enough.

MP Mukunji said the program will be an annual event that will also be used to award the best-performing schools and students in academics.

He rooted for a return to the ranking of schools in national examinations, saying it will bring back the spirit of competition which was good for learners.

‘The schools performing poorly will be challenged to work harder while best performers will equally have to put more effort to maintain their position,’ Mukunji said.

He further said he had initiated a digitization program in all public primary and secondary schools to equip learners with technological knowledge early in life that will also expose them to the world of online jobs.

Mukunji said the project will involve putting up computer laboratories with internet connectivity.

Other leaders present during the occasion include EALA Member Godfrey Maina and Gatundu South MP Gabriel Kagombe.

Source: Kenya News Agency