By Jeff Kizzilah Digital Editor
The National Parents Association (NPA) has called upon parents, education stakeholders, development partners, and all Kenyans to fully support the implementation of Competency-Based Education (CBE), describing it as a transformative reform that will shape the future of education and national development.
The Association commended the Ministry of Education, led by Cabinet Secretary Julius Migos Ogamba, for overseeing the successful transition of learners to Senior School and advancing reforms aimed at improving access to quality education. NPA noted that the successful implementation of CBE requires cooperation among parents, teachers, schools, communities, and government institutions.
NPA also praised the Ministry of Health under Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale for expanding the Social Health Authority (SHA), urging parents to register their families to ensure learners can access affordable healthcare whenever needed.
The Association acknowledged the Government’s continued investment in education through the recruitment of more than 120,000 teachers, expansion of school infrastructure, capitation funding, and other reforms aimed at improving learning outcomes across the country.
While welcoming these achievements, NPA expressed concern over rising cases of indiscipline in schools, including destruction of property, arson, and attacks on teachers. The Association urged parents to play a more active role in mentoring their children, promoting discipline, and working closely with schools to instill responsibility, respect, and national values.
NPA appealed to development partners and well-wishers to support parental empowerment programmes across the country, saying many parents require training and guidance to effectively support their children’s education under the CBE framework.
The Association further appealed to President William Ruto to strengthen the institutional capacity of the National Parents Association to enable it to expand parental engagement programmes across all 47 counties.
On teacher recruitment, NPA urged the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) to continue engaging the Government for increased funding to recruit more teachers, convert deserving teacher interns to permanent and pensionable terms where possible, and prioritize long-serving PTA teachers during future recruitment exercises.
The Association also supported proposals to consider recruiting Senior School teachers based on one teaching subject instead of two, arguing that the move would widen employment opportunities for qualified teachers while addressing staffing shortages.
NPA commended Acting TSC CEO Eveline Mitei for strengthening professionalism within the teaching service and recognized the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (KICD), under CEO Prof. Charles Ong’ondo, for partnering with NPA in sensitizing County Parents Association representatives across all 47 counties on CBE, assessment, placement, and transition guidelines.
The Association said plans are underway to roll out similar sensitization programmes at the sub-county level in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, TSC, KNEC, and KICD.
NPA reaffirmed its commitment to working with the Government, teachers, parents, learners, development partners, and all education stakeholders to ensure every Kenyan child receives quality, inclusive, safe, and transformative education.
