President William Ruto has flagged off 203 vehicles which he said are to be used by education officials across the 47 counties in the management of the sector.
Ruto flagged off the vehicles on Thursday at the Kenya Institute of Special Education at Kasarani in Nairobi.
The Head of State said he expects that the vehicles will have a positive impact on the work that education officials do.
“We are here to support our officials by providing the necessary resources they need to undertake these tasks. These vehicles will enhance the mobility, effectiveness and efficiency of our education officers,” Ruto said.
He said the vehicles will also help to improve supervision and inspection services to all schools across the 47 counties.
Ruto said education officials have a critical role to play in shaping the quality of education in institutions by ensuring that high standards are kept.
He said their supervision and inspection function keeps the system running as it should.
“We expect the officials to enforce school attendance by learners and teachers, and map out the necessary support required in all institutions,” he said.
Ruto said he also expects them to strengthen internal quality assurance and standards the government is developing with head teachers and principals.
He added that education officials will also be at the front line of the quality assurance and standards system the government is developing and perfecting.
The President also expects that education officials will detect lapses in curriculum delivery and work together with the school leadership to fix them.
“With examinations beginning next week, these vehicles will improve the monitoring and distribution of examination papers across the country. The examination period tests the entire education system and is one of the ways to ensure the system holds,” the President said.
He said the government relies on the officials to deal with education emergencies.
Ruto said they are the first responders to any distress, threat or crisis faced by learners, schools and teachers.
“They provide physical, psychosocial and other forms of support that minimise danger to children and schools,” Ruto said.
Further, Ruto noted that the government is working to improve access, equity and quality in the delivery of education to children.
He said this came as a recommendation from the Presidential Working Party on Education Reforms
“We are already implementing some of the report’s recommendations, and our lawmakers are deliberating on the proposals that require policy and legislative changes to unlock their full effect,” he said.
He said it is the State’s commitment that every child should have the chance to fulfil their potential and rise to the highest level of accomplishment that their intellect, talent and determination will allow.
Additionally, Ruto said going to school is not enough.
“We have to make sure that children learn basic reading, writing and numeracy skills, which are the foundation for quality learning,” he said.
To aid this objective, Ruto said the State has recruited 56,000 teachers this year, the largest number ever.
However, he added that teachers on their own are not enough to guarantee quality learning.
He said they need support from the school and the Ministry of Education.
“To every teacher across the country, we promise to support you to do your best as part of our duty to ensure children learn to the expected standard and under the best possible environment,” he said.