Parliament stops implementation of report on CBC, education reforms

The country's Education sector could be thrown into yet another turmoil after the National Assembly stopped the implementation of a report by the Prof Raphael Munavu-led Presidential Working Party on Education Reform.

The working party had made sweeping recommendations that would potentially change the learning system, and the implementation of several recommendations in line with the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC) had already kicked off.

However, the National Assembly is now raising concerns on how the recommendations are being implemented before coming to the House to be approved either as regulations or as substantial law. 

Standing on a point of order, Emukhaya MP Omboko Milemba claimed the recommendations made by the Prof Munavu-led team were against several laws and even the constitution and wanted the Speaker to make a ruling on why they are being implemented before the House approved them. 

“We want your direction so that people do not change the law or the constitution through the back door,” Milemba challenged Speaker Moses Wetangula.

His sentiments were supported by several MPs who spoke on the issue all seeking a direction from the Speaker to stop the implementation of the recommendations.

“There is no one in this country that can make law however high or mighty they think they are,” retorted Ainabkoi MP William Chepkonga. 

“We don’t expect any other person who has not been elected to make law. That is contravention of the constitution. This is a matter that you should issue a statement from your chair, the implementations should stop,” the Ainabkoi MP added.

Rarieda MP Otiende Amollo accused the Education Ministry of trying to circumvent the law, by not allowing Parliament or the courts to determine the legality of their recommendations.

‘’I am aware that not only is it a policy document that has not been crystallized into law, but they have purported to appoint an implementation committee which is already implementing it. It is not even considered if parliament will accept it into law or not,” he said.

Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wa committed to talk to Education Cabinet Secretary Ezekiel Machogu to stop him from implementing the recommendations especially those that required approval of the House. 

“Nobody including cabinet secretaries have the power to make the law. Not even a presidential working group. The best they can do is to make recommendations that if they are adopted by this House they can be implemented,” he said.

While directing the Majority Leader to issue a statement on the matter in two weeks, Speaker Moses Wetangula asked all those involved to allow parliament to play its constitutional mandate.

“Nobody and I repeat nobody including cabinet secretaries can purport to make law or do things that can be interpreted that they have made law, because they have no capacity to make law,” Wetangula ruled.

 Among the programs that had already been implemented following the Munavu task force recommendations include removing Junior Secondary School from high school to primary school, adopting a new grading system, a new funding model and rationalization of new learning areas.