The Kisii County government has been blasted for failing to implement the resolutions that emerged during an education conference that was held in August 2014.
The county government was to jointly implement the recommendations with the national government.
Some of the recommendations that emerged from the education conference include; formation of a task force to guide the implementation process, addressing of infrastructural facilities in schools, employment of adequate ECD staff, quality implementation of curriculum within schools, empowering schools with staff and other resources, and ensure that all schools are ready for inclusive education for the people living with disabilities.
Governor James Ongwae formed the task force and bestowed power to his Deputy Joash Maangi to oversee the implementation process. They inaugurated the task force in December 18, 2014.
With only eight months remaining to complete the implementation process, only 43 per cent of the recommendations have been implemented.
Speaking to this reporter on Friday morning, the task force chairman Dr. Henry Onderi, who also chairs Kisii County Education Board (KCEB), said the county has been reluctant to finance activities in the implementation process. They had an estimated budget of Sh2.6 million.
“Thanks to the national government. It has supported us and that is what enabled us implement 8 out of 21 resolutions arrived at translating to 43 per cent at the moment. The county government has done less in implementation of the education conference recommendations,” said Dr Onderi adding that other resolutions are half-way implemented.
He, in particular, blames Governor Ongwae for turning a deaf ear yet he promised to allocate resources for successful implementation of the recommendations meant to improve standards of education in the county.
“The process was slated to take a period of two years (2015 and 2016) but that may not be achieved since we don’t have funds to implement the remaining part of the recommendations. We (the task force team) have been going to the office of Maangi, Education and Finance ministries but our concerns are yet to yield fruits.”
“The county government was to facilitate implementation of three quarters of the recommendations. So far, it has not given any little support,” revealed Dr Onderi who is Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science and Technology (JOOUST) Director, Kisii Satellite Campus.
The task force comprised of 30 members among them; Professors Ratemo Michieka, Genevieve Wanjala, Misia Kadenyi, Chacha Nyaigoti, Orpha Ongiti and Joseph Bosire, Kodeck Omwancha (ECM Finance), John Omwoyo (former ECM-Education), Kisii County Director of Education Richard Chepkawai and his TSC counterpart Martin Adede.