The National Assembly’s Departmental Committee on Education has commenced a consultative review of proposed education reform Bills arising from the Report of the Presidential Working Party on Education Reform, with a focus on aligning the proposed laws with the existing legal and policy framework while assessing their financial implications.
Chaired by Tinderet Member of Parliament Julius Melly, the Committee on Wednesday, August 5, 2026, met with the Ministry of Education, led by Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba, to scrutinize the proposed legislative changes, on the Tertiary Education Placement and Funding Bill, the Basic Education (Amendment) Bill, the Kenya National Educational Assessment Council (Amendment) Bill and the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (Amendment) Bill.
Role of proposed Tertiary Education Funding Authority
A key proposal under the Tertiary Education Placement and Funding Bill is the consolidation of the Higher Education Loans Board (HELB), the Universities Fund Board and the Technical and Vocational Education and Training Funding Board into a single entity, the Tertiary Education Funding Authority (TEFA).
The proposed Authority will oversee all aspects of higher education financing, including student loans and scholarships, with the aim of streamlining funding and improving efficiency.
The Bill also introduces a unified funding framework based on means testing, where financial support will be determined by factors such as a student’s financial ability, special needs, affirmative action considerations and the cost of the programme.
It further provides for education loans to minors admitted to tertiary institutions and outlines the processes for funding applications, loan disbursement, scholarships and loan recovery, including from beneficiaries residing outside the country.
On student placement, the Bill proposes the establishment of the Kenya Universities and Colleges Central Placement Service (KUCCPS) as the national placement body for all tertiary education institutions.
The proposed framework separates student placement from funding decisions, ensuring admission is determined solely by merit, qualifications and programme choice, while financial assistance is processed independently.
The Committee also considered amendments to the Basic Education Act, which seek to formally recognise heads of institutions and clearly define their roles as agents of the Principal Secretary for Basic Education in the implementation of education policies and programmes.
Why is the government proposing the removal of the Academic Committee
Proposed amendments to the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development Act seek to remove the Academic Committee on the grounds that its functions duplicate those of the Council’s Board.
According to the proposal, the Board will have the flexibility to establish committees and panels whenever necessary to support the discharge of its mandate.
The Committee further reviewed proposed changes to the Kenya National Educational Assessment Council Act. The amendments remove the proposed National Examination Appeals Tribunal, with examination-related appeals instead being handled by the existing Education Appeals Tribunal.
In their observations, Members noted the proposed legislative reforms are intended to strengthen governance within the education sector, improve coordination across tertiary education institutions and establish a more efficient and sustainable framework for student placement and funding.
The Committee is set to continue engaging stakeholders before making its recommendations to the House.
