The Cabinet Secretary for Education Prof George Magoha has revealed tricks that heads of institutions and construction contractors have been using to embezzle funds meant for the construction of the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC) classrooms.
According to CS Magoha, the cost of constructing the CBC classrooms was reduced while commissioning four CBC classrooms at Nairobi School.
Magoha revealed that in previous times, classrooms used to be built at a cost of Kshs. 1.2 million per classroom.
“I hope we do not go back to basically stealing almost 500,000 from every classroom because you are stealing that money from a child,” said CS Magoha.
Magoha revealed that some school principals and contractors conspire to ‘eat’ almost Kshs. 500,000 for every classroom.
According to the Ministry of Education, 8,300 classrooms have already been built countrywide at a cost of Kshs. 788,000 per class.
“That is the transformative shift but a prophet is never recognized in his area, many years to come you will be able to compare the price difference,” said CS Magoha.
While the price could have been Kshs. 9.9 billion the subsidized price is now Kshs. 6.5 billion, saving taxpayers Kshs. 3.4 billion.
“I hope we do not go back to that kind of impunity and basically steal from ourselves,” said CS Magoha.
CS Magoha brushed aside critics who questioned Magoha’s move of personally commissioning the CBC classrooms.
According to CS Magoha, it’s the nature of Kenyans not to expect one to sit in the office and let things run smoothly by themselves.
“People do not like me going out to confirm, I will not trust you until I go and see the building, like where I am now I know the building is here,” said CS Magoha.
With CS Magoha’s reign in office set to end two weeks after the elections, he lauded President Uhuru Kenyatta for giving priority to education throughout his term in office.
In the 2022/2023 financial year, the education sector was allocated the most money to the tune of Kshs. 544 billion.
“The President gave us 26.9 per cent of the budget and we thank him for that; our challenge is how money is used,” added CS Magoha.
Magoha promised that he commission CBC classrooms until his time in office runs out. He revealed that by the time he will leave, the country will be having 8,500 operational CBC classrooms.
“For example, if someone goes to court, by the time they’re done, I will have finished my work,” said CS Magoha.
CS Magoha revealed that the second phase of the CBC classes is at 58% nationwide.
He said that the Western and Rift Valley regions are still at 50% while in Nyeri they are at 88%.
Magoha implored the incoming government to spend the funds allocated to the education sector wisely.