Education CS Julius Ogamba has reaffirmed the government’s commitment to accessible, quality and affordable education under the new funding model.
He said university fees now range between Sh5,814 and Sh75,000 per semester depending on need and programme costs under the new funding model.
“As schools reopen for third term, we are working with the National Treasury to ensure timely release of funds to support smooth operations during this critical assessment and examination period,” Ogamba said.
To date, the Higher Education Loans Board has disbursed Sh9.46 billion to 309,178 students.
He praised the education research community for supporting policy with evidence and urged it to continue offering actionable recommendations that can sustain transformation in the sector.
Ogamba said evidence-based research is important in shaping education policy and reforms.
He praised the University of Embu, the Education Deans’ Forum and sector partners for fostering collaboration between policymakers, academia, researchers and practitioners.
“Evidence is now a fundamental mission of Kenya’s education sector. It allows us to make decisions that directly improve access, quality and outcomes,” Ogamba said.
The CS spoke when he officially opened the Sixth Biennial Education Evidence for Action Conference alongside the inaugural Deans of Education Forum at the University of Embu.
The conference, themed 'Re-imagining Education in Kenya: Reforming Teacher Education for Sustainable Development' comes when the ministry is implementing key recommendations of the Presidential Working Party on Education Reform.
Ogamba highlighted ongoing reforms, including domiciling junior secondary schools within primary schools, rationalising learning areas under Competency-Based Education and preparing for the transition to senior school.
He said 11 education bills are being finalised to align the sector’s legal framework with the reforms.
On teacher education, the CS called for training to be aligned with CBE to ensure future educators equip learners with practical and employable skills.
He pointed to reforms in teachers training colleges, where certificate programmes have been upgraded to diploma level and continuous professional development for in-service teachers introduced.
Ogamba said the ministry has developed the Kenya Education Management Information System, a central platform designed to track learner data across all education levels and strengthen evidence-driven decision-making.
