Unique Personal Identifier to replace index numbers in KCPE, KCSE

The Ministry of Education will start using the Unique Personal Identifier (UPI) numbers for allocating capitation funds to schools beginning 2016/2017 financial year, Education Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i has disclosed.

Matiang’i said the UPI which will have 6 characters, unique to learner, will replace the admission and index numbers schools give students upon joining the school and for purposes of registering for KCPE and KCSE examinations.

“For KCPE and KCSE candidates this year, index numbers will be replaced by the UPIs,” The CS said.

Matiang’i made the remarks during the graduation ceremony for Murang’a Teachers Training College yesterday. He was flanked by the institution’s Chief Principal, Mrs. Elvira    Shitohi, the Senior Deputy Secretary in the Ministry, Mrs. Janet Mucheru and the Chairman of the Board of Management, Dr. Mwangi Ngumo.

“The implementation of this system will lead to better, personalized educational service delivery, and constrain the unfortunate resource leakage that has plagued the education sector,” Matiang’i said.

He said the UPI would be the linchpin of the comprehensive Education Data Management Information System that the ministry is developing.

“This new system will be the single source of truthful data that will guide in planning and disbursement of education capitation,” Matiang’i reiterated.

The Cabinet Secretary assured newly trained teachers from various teachers’ training colleges that Teachers Service Commission (TSC) will expedite their registration.

Matiang’i said he would work with Teachers Service Commission (TSC) to fast-track the process of registration to enable them secure employment with private educational institutions and government.

The assurance followed a passionate request by one of the graduands that the government ease the registration of newly trained teachers to enable them look for employment opportunities as teachers.

He said the government would continue to facilitate improvement of the quality of teachers entering the Primary Education level in addition to streamlining the training of Early Childhood Development and Education (ECDE) teacher training.

He said Qualified ECDE teachers would be registered by the Teachers Service Commission and be eligible for employment in pre-primary schools upon being registered by TSC.

He said the government would incorporate the Information Communication Technology (ICT) as a tool of instruction, noting that over-dependence on traditional modes of curriculum delivery has limitations that adversely affected effective teaching and learning.

He stressed the need for imparting appropriate values in the learners, saying integrity, hard work and patriotism were crucial values that children need to be taught.

Teaching the values was, however, not enough, Matiang’i said.

“Living them as teachers are more important,” he noted, saying modeling was far more effective shaping behavior than teaching it.