Prof. Maurice Oduor Okoth

In the colonial era, schooling was designed primarily to produce clerks and low-level workers to serve the colonial administration. After independence in 1963, Kenya adopted the 7-4-2-3 structure, which promised broader access and a more comprehensive education. Recent data paints a detailed picture of both progress and strain. According to the 2024 school census conducted by the Ministry of Education...

AI is influencing everything from literature reviews and data analysis to writing assistance and predictive modeling. Perhaps most troubling is the rise of fake research outputs and deepfakes. We are entering an age where AI can fabricate data, generate credible-looking papers filled with false information, or even create fictitious authors and peer reviews. Let us work collectively—as departments, institutions, and national...

Under the Fourth Schedule of the Constitution, basic education is listed as a national government function, while counties oversee early childhood education and vocational training. Handing over all basic education functions to counties in one sweeping move would be risky and potentially chaotic. Pilot projects in select counties could serve as test cases, providing valuable lessons and refinements before the model...

Without a framework that fairly compensates academic qualification, the current remuneration model risks undermining both professional development and institutional integrity. One key objection is the fear that such a model might undervalue experience and performance, which are often crucial in determining an individual’s suitability for leadership roles. Linking basic salary to academic qualification is not a radical idea—it is a rational...

This emerging pattern signals a subtle yet deliberate form of administrative attrition—one that appears designed to force compliance without triggering resistance. Agencies have reported sudden, unexplained cuts to their annual funding, leaving them unable to run programmes, pay suppliers, or even meet basic operational costs such as utilities and rent. While streamlining state corporations is a commendable goal, the process must...

This unexpected decline in university applications comes on the heels of the 2024 KCSE results, which saw improved overall performance compared to previous years Out of the 244,463 candidates who scored the minimum university entry grade of C+ and above in the 2024 KCSE examinations, only 201,695 students submitted applications for university placement. As an education expert, I dare warn that...

A defining feature of CBE is its learner-centered and flexible approach. Students progress through their learning journeys at their own pace, moving forward only when they have fully demonstrated competence in a given area. To understand how CBE, CBET, and TVET work together in Kenya’s education landscape, it's helpful to think of them not as separate systems, but as...

Performance wellness refers to a school manager’s ability to maintain a healthy balance between personal wellbeing and professional responsibilities. Long working hours, inadequate rest, and poor dietary habits can wear down even the most dedicated school leaders. As CBC demands more creativity, adaptability, and vision from school leaders, their wellness must be placed at the center of policy, planning, and institutional...

While officials at all levels of government frequently raise the alarm over the presence of unqualified individuals in critical positions, there has been little in terms of concrete, sustained action to stop the rot. Several crackdowns and audits have uncovered hundreds of fake certificates, particularly in the civil service and county governments. Organizations must put in place secure and anonymous reporting...

The KNQF Regulations 2025 establish a ten-level structure that comprehensively classifies qualifications—from basic education to doctoral degrees. The new framework empowers individuals with diverse learning backgrounds to gain formal recognition, thereby improving their employability and academic progression. By recognizing all forms of learning, improving qualification standards, and linking education with employability, the framework holds the potential to unlock opportunities for millions....