Magoha wants incoming gov’t to give him more time to complete CBC classrooms

Education Cabinet Secretary Prof. George Magoha is now calling upon the incoming president to give him more time to oversee the construction of CBC classrooms into completion.

Although the CS acknowledged that the Education Ministry is in its final stages of rolling out the Competency-Based Curriculum, he admitted that he still needs time under the next administration to ensure all classrooms are completed.

“We intend to complete most of the CBC classrooms by election time, should there be a small balance, since I am not a politician, and you can judge me on that, only God knows who will be the president, I don't know and whoever comes in will be my commander in chief,” said Prof. Magoha, “I hope that before that person is sworn in, they can allow me to finish the remaining classrooms.”

“I stand guided if I’m allowed to continue, I shall continue to ensure that the classrooms are completed, if I’m guided to go and rest, then I will obey the command because I work at someone's command,” he added.

All basic education institutions close for a week starting Tuesday, August 2, ahead of the General Election set for next Tuesday, August 9.

Students will resume school on Thursday 11th August, 2022, according to Monday's directive by CS Magoha.

The first batch of Grade 7 learners will start joining Junior Secondary schools under the CBC program in January next year. 

Some 2.5 million students will be transitioning under the curriculum which is still contentious among education stakeholders, who have been calling on the government to set aside its implementation.

They argue that the system lacks proper basic structures.

Following recent clashes between CS Magoha and the political formations against the system, President Uhuru Kenyatta, during the Madaraka Day Celebrations on June 1, outrightly held that there would be no looking back in regard to the CBC rollout.

The president said that even after his term expires in August, the government had already put-up structures in place to ensure the rollout would not be stalled.

Amid the backlash, CS Magoha’s helm at the Education Ministry has seen him gain a reputation as an abrasive and no-nonsense administrator.

He recently noted that President Kenyatta has given him the freedom to exercise his powers as CS without interference, which he said is key for any future leader seeking his services.

“If somebody else wants my services, they will have to convince me that they will give me the same leeway that this president has given me to serve. Si mnaona ninawika na hakuna kitu inafanyika?,” he posed.

The CS told journalists that he has enjoyed working under President Kenyatta’s administration because of the freedom his boss gave him.

“I feel free. I have been given the freedom to do my work without interference,” he added then.