The Kisumu chapter of the Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (Kuppet) has proposed the establishment of an Inter-Governmental Coordination Council on Basic Education.
Kuppet executive secretary George Osura made the proposal when he appeared before the parliamentary departmental committee on education in Kisumu to give views on six proposed education bills.
Osura said the council would provide a mechanism for coordinating and resolving issues arising from the implementation of basic education policies and programmes between the national and county governments.
He proposed that the council include representatives of the national government, the Council of Governors, the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Finance and the Teachers Service Commission.
“Its functions would include ensuring that responsibilities between the two levels of government were aligned, avoiding duplication, sharing information and best practice, and advising on the financing and resourcing of basic education,” he said.
The council would also mediate and resolve disputes arising from the implementation of the proposed law, Osura said.
He proposed that the national government should have primary responsibility for financing basic education in public institutions.
Osura also called for capitation grants and other funds allocated to schools to be released in full and in the correct proportion at least 14 days before the official opening of each school term.
He said the formula used to disburse the funds should be published annually in the Kenya Gazette.
Osura proposed an amendment to the Basic Education Bill, 2026, to formally define a junior secondary school as a distinct and autonomous administrative entity within a basic education institution.
He said junior secondary schools, covering Grades 7, 8 and 9 under the competency-based framework, should have their own administrative structures.
These would include a principal, deputy principal and heads of department responsible for day-to-day management, curriculum implementation and learner welfare.
The principal would be accountable to the institution’s Board of Management for the academic and administrative performance of the junior secondary school, according to the proposal.
Osura also proposed an amendment to Section 39(1) to provide for a representative of the teaching staff and a learner from the institution to serve on the Board of Management as ex-officio members.
Kuppet also proposed the creation of a Basic Education Fund to consolidate scholarships, bursaries and other education funds administered under the proposed law.
Osura said the fund should provide capitation and financial support to make basic education free for every Kenyan child.
He proposed that the Education Ministry should not operate separate bursary or scholarship schemes for basic education.
Instead, funding for learners in public basic education institutions should be disbursed exclusively through the proposed fund, which would be administered in accordance with the Public Finance Management Act.
On representation of teachers’ unions on County Education Boards, Osura proposed that Section 32(1)(i) of the Bill be deleted and replaced.
He called for the provision of one representative from each registered trade union representing the interests of teachers.
Osura also proposed amendments to provisions on borrowing and lending money by the relevant education institutions and councils.
He said the proposed changes would clarify the financial powers and responsibilities of the institutions covered by the Bill.
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