Cabinet adopts Basic Education Bill

Cabinet adopts Basic Education Bill Written By:PPS,    Posted: Thu, Aug 16, 2012

The Cabinet has Thursday declared its support for making Pre-school, primary and secondary school as the basic education for all Kenyans and proposed hefty fines and punishment for parents who fail to ensure that their children achieve this level of education. Proposed under the Basic Education Bill 2012 that was adopted at a meeting chaired by President Mwai Kibaki are stiff penalties for parents who fail to take their children to the level of Secondary School.  The following actions will be taken against those who fail to comply;  (i) A person who fails to take his or her child to school as required under sub-section (1) commits an offence. (ii) A person who contravenes this section shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding one hundred thousand shillings or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding one year, or both. (iii) It shall be the responsibility of every parent or guardian to admit or cause to be admitted his or her child, as the case may be, to a basic education institution. (iv) Where a parent or guardian defaults in the discharge of his or her responsibility under sub-section (1), such a parent or guardian shall be deemed to have committed an offence and is liable to a fine not exceeding one hundred thousand or to a period not exceeding five years or both. The bill also states that it is illegal to employ a child of school age going age of 18 or under, and that punitive actions be taken against those who exercise cruelty on children. Exam leakage  The cabinet also passed the Kenya National Examinations Council Bill, 2012 which proposes among other issues a five year jail term for those who collude and facilitate examination leakage.   Other punitive measures against exam leakage include; 1. A person who, having complied with the provisions of subsection (1), does or omits to do any act in contravention of the oath of secrecy commits an offence and shall be liable, upon conviction, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding five years or a fine not exceeding one million shillings, or to both. 2. A person who, before, or during an examination conducted by the Council, has in his or her possession or under his or her control any examination paper or any part thereof, or any material or information purporting to relate to the contents of any paper or material for that examination, without lawful excuse, commits an offence shall be liable, upon conviction, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding ten years, or a fine not exceeding two million shillings, or to both. 3. A person who, recklessly or willfully, assists or causes any examination candidate to obtain or gain unauthorized possession of any examination paper, material or information or any part thereof, commits an offence and shall be liable, upon conviction, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding ten years, or a fine not exceeding two million shillings, or to both. Other bills passed Other bills passed in regard to the education sector and aimed at putting the sector in line with the New Constitution and Vision 2030 were; (1) Policy Framework for Education and Training (2) The Establishment of the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development Bill 2012 (3) The Technical and Vocational Education and Training Bill 2012 (4) The Universities Bill 2012 that ensures that all public and private universities will be governed under one law.  Universities will however maintain their individual identities and character through their charter. The bill also outlines how universities will have a framework for a credible alumni system and makes it possible for the alumni to be actively engaged in the management of Universities. (5) The Kenya Science, Technology and Innovation Policy and Bill 2012.  The bill focuses on the promotion of Science, Technology and innovation as a key ingredient of vision 2030. It creates the necessary institutions and legal framework in order to build on Kenya's capacity and international competitiveness. (6) The Kenya Qualification Framework Bill 2012.  The bill puts into place standards and accreditation systems for various professional cadre.  The bill is good news especially for Kenyans who study overseas and provide the framework for accreditation.   It will also help tap into the competencies of Kenyans in the diaspora and will harmonize qualification for locally and internationally trained professionals in such areas as accounting, medicine and law. The main aim of the education bills is to synchronize the education sector to the constitution especially the bill of rights in regard to children rights and aspirations of vision 2030. The bills also aim at inculcating national values, history and culture to the education system and curriculum.  They aim at moulding Kenya's Youth to have creative, innovative and entrepreneurial skills that should be integrated into the education system. The bills also ensure that graduates of the Kenyan education system respond to market demands, are job creators not job seekers and have a keen eye to innovation and its application and not mere imitators of others innovations. They also aim at creating a good balance between graduates of humanities and science. Agriculture sector Cabinet also passed the landmark "Consolidation of Agricultural Sector legislation that consolidates over 100 various laws into 5.  This will help Kenya's agriculture sector to be in line with International best practices. The bills passed were; 1. Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries Bill 2012 2. Crops Bill 2012 3. Fisheries Bill 2012 4. Kenya Agricultural Research Bill 2012 The Cabinet meeting also adopted the Building Surveyors Bill 2012. The bill gives provision for the registration of building Surveyors, land economists and other professionals in the construction and building industry. Other bills adopted by cabinet were; 1. The Governance, Justice and law order sector (GJLOS) Policy that creates harmony among the various organs involved in the criminal justice system. 2. The Repealing of Asiatic Widows Orphans Pension Act Cap 193 Laws of Kenya. Border delimitation Cabinet also called for a speedy conclusion to the border delimitation process across all Kenya's external boundaries as stipulated under the guidelines of the African Union. The Cabinet pointed out the need to urgently conclude the process to help Kenya and all its neighbouring counties in their development planning process.