The National Assembly Education Committee in Kenya has begun the final phase of public participation on six Education Reform Bills. The exercise, which started on September 28, will cover 16 counties and conclude on October 2. During this period, the committee will gather views from stakeholders on the proposed laws that aim to transform the country's education sector. The bills cover various aspects of education, including early learning, basic education, universities, TVET, teacher training, examinations, and professional qualifications.
The six proposed laws are the Tertiary Education, Placement and Funding Bill, 2026, Basic Education Bill, 2026, Kenya National Educational Assessments Council Bill, 2026, Pre-Service Education and In-Service Training Bill, 2026, Kenya National Qualifications Framework (Amendment) Bill, 2026, and Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (Amendment) Bill, 2026. These bills propose significant changes to the education system, including the establishment of a Tertiary Education Funding Authority (TEFA) to oversee university and TVET funding.
The Tertiary Education, Placement and Funding Bill, 2026, seeks to create a coordinated framework for financing students and trainees in tertiary institutions. It proposes the establishment of TEFA, which will bring together functions currently handled by the Higher Education Loans Board (HELB), Universities Fund, and TVET Funding Board. This bill is expected to attract significant attention from university and TVET students.
The Basic Education Bill, 2026, targets the part of education affecting millions of learners in schools. It seeks to replace the existing basic-education legal framework and set rules covering early childhood development, primary and junior schools, school governance, financing, learner welfare, teacher management, and quality assurance. The bill has already generated debate, particularly around junior school management, with different positions from teachers' unions.
The Kenya National Educational Assessments Council Bill, 2026, proposes a legal framework for the Kenya National Educational Assessments Council, replacing the existing legal framework governing the Kenya National Examinations Council. This change is part of Kenya's shift from an examination-only model towards competency-based assessment under the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC). The CBC is currently being implemented in secondary schools, with junior secondary school education covering Grades 7-9.
The Pre-Service Education and In-Service Training Bill, 2026, focuses on teacher training and continuous professional development for serving teachers and education managers. It proposes a legal framework for training people before they enter the teaching profession and for ongoing professional training. The Kenya National Qualifications Framework (Amendment) Bill, 2026, deals with the recognition and tracking of qualifications, proposing changes to the national qualifications framework.
After the public participation exercise, the Education Committee will compile the views received and prepare its report before the proposals proceed through the parliamentary stages. The six bills, if passed, will create a new legal architecture for Kenya's education system, affecting various aspects, including student funding and placement, school governance, learning assessment, teacher training, and curriculum development.
Key points
- The six proposed laws aim to transform Kenya's education sector.
- The bills cover various aspects of education, including university funding, teacher training, and CBC.
- The proposed laws will create a new legal framework for Kenya's education system if passed.
