President William Ruto has reaffirmed the government’s commitment to transforming the education sector, describing it as a key pillar in Kenya’s economic growth and national development agenda.
Speaking during the opening of the Second National Education Conference in Naivasha, the President said the government has significantly increased investment in education since 2022 in a bid to improve access, quality and inclusion across the country.
Ruto noted that the education budget has risen from approximately KSh500 billion in 2022 to more than KSh702 billion in the current financial year, reflecting the administration’s commitment to strengthening learning institutions and supporting learners.
The Head of State said the government has recruited 100,000 new teachers over the last three years to address staffing shortages and improve the teacher-to-student ratio in schools nationwide.
“We have continued to broaden and deepen reforms in the education sector, the central pillar of economic development and progress as a people and a society,”Ruto said.
He added that the government has also constructed 23,000 classrooms and initiated the building of 1,600 laboratories in secondary and senior schools to ease congestion and improve the learning environment for students.
According to the President, the government has further reviewed the Competency-Based Education system to address emerging challenges and align it with the country’s educational needs, aspirations and realities.
In higher education, Ruto defended the new student-centred funding model, saying it was introduced to expand access to university education, enhance equity and ensure that financially disadvantaged learners are not locked out of higher learning opportunities.
The President said the National Education Conference provides an opportunity for stakeholders to assess progress made in the sector, address existing challenges and renew efforts towards making education a major driver of national transformation.
