National Assembly to Consider Six Bills Seeking Major Reforms in Education Sector

The National Assembly is preparing to examine six Bills aimed at implementing significant reforms within Kenya's education sector. These proposals, spearheaded by Majority Party Leader Kimani Ichung'wah, have been directed to the National Assembly's Departmental Committee on Education for public input and further evaluation. The legislation encompasses a range of critical areas, including basic education, teacher training, curriculum development, tertiary education funding, and the recognition of academic qualifications.

The proposed amendments include the Basic Education (Amendment) Bill, 2026; the Kenya National Education Assessment Bill, 2026; the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (Amendment) Bill, 2026; the Pre-Service Education and In-Service Training in Basic Education Bill, 2026; the Tertiary Education Placement and Funding Bill, 2026; and the Kenya National Qualifications Framework (Amendment) Bill, 2026.

These Bills are designed to tackle various shortcomings in Kenya's education system and align the legal framework with ongoing reform efforts, such as the adoption of Competency-Based Education. The Basic Education (Amendment) Bill, 2026, seeks to modify the legal structure governing basic education, encompassing aspects such as the management of learning institutions, quality assurance, special needs education, and education information management.

Simultaneously, the Kenya National Education Assessment Bill, 2026, aims to establish a new legal framework for national education assessments, moving away from an examination-centric approach towards competency-based assessment. This reform also includes provisions for electronic assessments to mitigate examination malpractices.

The Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (Amendment) Bill, 2026, intends to redefine the institute's mandate, concentrating on basic and teacher education, and restructure its governance framework. Meanwhile, the Pre-Service Education and In-Service Training in Basic Education Bill, 2026, addresses teacher preparation and professional development by creating a distinct statutory framework for teacher training and professional growth.

At the tertiary level, the Tertiary Education Placement and Funding Bill, 2026, proposes substantial changes to student placement and financing mechanisms. A key aspect of this Bill is the establishment of the Tertiary Education Funding Authority (TEFA) to manage tertiary education financing, replacing existing bodies like the Higher Education Loans Board, Universities Fund, and TVET Fund.

Additionally, the Bill proposes modifying the role of the Kenya Universities and Colleges Central Placement Service (KUCCPS) in student placement and introducing a new statutory framework for tertiary education funding.

Lastly, the Kenya National Qualifications Framework (Amendment) Bill, 2026, aims to bolster the national system for recognizing and regulating academic and professional qualifications. This includes establishing a registration framework for institutions awarding qualifications and developing a national qualifications database. This database is envisioned to enhance tracking and recognition of qualifications, promoting transparency within the education and training sector.

These six Bills are now under consideration by the Education Committee, inviting public participation for feedback before the Committee formulates recommendations to the House.