Chairperson of the National Assembly Committee on Education, Julius Melly, has assured teachers, parents, students, and other stakeholders that all views collected during the public participation on six education reform bills will be submitted to Parliament in their original, unedited form. Melly made the pledge during the World Teachers’ Day celebrations at the Kasarani Gymnasium. He emphasized that the government is listening and that the submissions made during the county forums will not be altered before presentation to the House.
Melly's message was particularly targeted at Junior secondary teachers, whose calls for autonomy and separation from the comprehensive school management model emerged as one of the most prominent proposals during the public hearings. He assured them that their views had been heard and that a decision would be made in the interest of the people of Kenya. Melly also commended President William Ruto for prioritizing the education sector, particularly through the construction of new classrooms and laboratories and the recruitment and promotion of teachers.
The six bills under review touch on critical areas including governance of basic education, teacher regulation, curriculum implementation, and financing, all of which directly affect the working conditions and professional trajectory of teachers. Melly framed the legislative changes as complementary to the executive’s investments in infrastructure, staffing, and teacher welfare. He emphasized that the bills would be fast-tracked through Parliament to align policy with the views of the larger population.
President Ruto, in his keynote address, highlighted tangible welfare gains for teachers, including the recruitment of 120,000 new teachers by December 2026, and the conversion of 20,000 contract teachers to permanent and pensionable terms. He also listed the expansion of teachers' health cover to 3,871 facilities and the reservation of 20,000 affordable housing units for teachers. Ruto further highlighted the largest single-year promotion exercise in Kenya’s history, with 34,016 slots already advertised.
Melly’s assurance that public views on the six education reform bills would be submitted “raw” to Parliament sought to allay fears that stakeholder input—especially from Junior secondary teachers—might be diluted in the legislative process. The move is seen as an effort to increase transparency and inclusivity in the policy-making process. By submitting the views in their original form, Melly said that the government aims to demonstrate its commitment to listening to the concerns of stakeholders.
The 2026 World Teachers’ Day celebrations, held under the theme “Standing with teachers: 60 years of protecting the profession, advancing its status and shaping our futures”, blended recognition of outstanding educators with broader reflections on the future of schooling in Kenya. The event also marked 60 years since the 1966 ILO/UNESCO Recommendation that first set global standards for the teaching profession.
The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) has made significant strides in promoting teachers, with over 160,000 teachers promoted in just four years, compared to less than 70,000 promotions in a span of 10 years previously. Melly commended the TSC for its efforts to improve the welfare and status of teachers in Kenya.
Key points
- - Julius Melly assures stakeholders that public views on six education reform bills will be submitted to Parliament in their original form. - President Ruto announces plans to recruit 120,000 new teachers and promote 50,000 teachers by the end of 2026. - The six education reform bills aim to transform the education sector and address concerns of teachers, parents, and students.
