Ministry Defends Decision to Hold Forum at a Hotel

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Education CS George Magoha speaks at a KICD conference in Nairobi on Tuesday, September 14, 2021
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The Ministry of Education has come out to defend its decision to hold a Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC) stakeholders forum at a city hotel.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, September 15, the Ministry stated that modern organizations hold stakeholders’ forums in such establishments when deliberating on policy issues.

“Modern organizations engage their respective publics or stakeholders in such environments to explain and hear what stakeholders think about the policies and programs of the organizations,” the Ministry stated.

This comes after Kenyans questioned the Ministry’s decision to hold the CBC forum at a hotel instead of utilizing government facilities.

A section of Kenyans took to Twitter to lament the move, stating that holding forums at hotels was a waste of public resources.

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Pupils inside a classroom in Kenya
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“Breakfast at hotel with huge sitting allowances. I wish it could happen at primary schools for them to have a first-hand experience of the CBC implementation,” Samuel Wangatia tweeted.

In response, the Ministry stated there were no allowances given to Ministry officials attending the event. 

The Ministry further stated that it only incurred costs of using the venue.

“What allowance perks? The only cost the Ministry incurred was to use the facility. There are no allowances for civil servants in such a function,” the Ministry responded.

The Ministry further stated that it minimized its expenditure on the event since the forum was hosted in Nairobi.

"This took place in Nairobi. A slingshot away from Jogoo House. No expense involved.”

On Tuesday, September 14, the Ministry of Education held a CBC forum with Kenyan media editors.

At the event, Education Cabinet Secretary, George Magoha, stated that the government was focused on implementing the CBC.

"I did not start CBC. I came here and found it. For those against it, know that CBC is here to stay," Magoha stated.

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Education CS George Magoha (left) at the KICD conference on Tuesday, September 14, 2021
File