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SPECIAL REPORT The PARTIES ACT TO INCULCATE DEMOCRATIC IDEALS — Pages 14 & 19 SUPPLEMENT LEnhancingink governance for all THE PARTNERSHIP FOR PEACE PROJECT FUNDED BY THE EU FEBRUARY 2012 Issue No. 088 Kshs 40/= — Pages 15 - 18 Why Ongeri banned forced Health sector repeating of classes By HENRY OWINO KENYA acumen in numeracy has been ranked highly by the Southern Africa on the brink Consortium for Monitoring Education- By FAITH MUIRURI Despite glaring needs, budgetary allocations al Quality (SACMEQ) The country came second after ESPITE the expansion of for the ministries remain dismal Mauritius with a mean score of 557out health facilities in the coun- of the 15 SACMEQ countries. How- try, provision of health serv- ever the country’s literacy level was D ranked at number five with a mean ices remains uneven and continues score of 543 behind Tanzania, Sey- to face a challenge on the basis of chelles, Mauritius and Swaziland. geographical distribution. The low ranking in literacy behind The scenario is likely to complicate 4 countries including Tanzania that matters for the County Governments that topped in literacy was largely blamed are expected to become operational after on the adulteration of basic language the next General Elections. by the sheng slung which is common A report on the sector presented by the among the youth. PS in the Public Health Ministry Mark The Minister urged: “Our suspi- Bor reveals that many health facilities in cion is however that adulteration of the country are not adequately equipped our Kiswahili and even English where according to the recommended standards. even very senior members of our socie- ty including top politicians have turned The PS cites the many dispensaries that to talk “Sheng” to endear themselves to have been constructed under CDF without the youth. While this has short gains in the corresponding increase in human re- terms of popularity, it seems to trans- source and medical supplies. late itself in drop in quality of our chil- Further, the report states that about 108 dren’s performance in both Kiswahili model health centres have been complet- and English. I therefore urge everyone ed under the Economic Stimulus Project to take note of this damaging effect and (ESP) with very little to show of the in- do something about it.” vestment. Education Minister Prof Sam The PS says that lack of an investment Ongeri said the SACMEQ III results plan for infrastructural development poses released in December 2011 however challenges related to planning and hence indicated that Kenyan pupils in stand- ard six ranked among the top in literacy mushrooming of unplanned health facili- and numeracy in the 15 countries in ties. Prof. Anyang’ Nyong’o, Minister for Medical Services. Africa that participated in SACMEQ The report reveals the fact that health studies. spending has remained relatively low as a For instance, during the 2008/ 2009 fi- ing out a deficit of Kshs40 billion. In the He reiterated that the ranking was share of overall Government budget (4.6 nancial year, resource requirement stood at subsequent financial year, the sector had a evident that the quality of education percent) and as a proportion of the GDP over Kshs 72 billion. However, only Kshs 8 Turn to Page 2 Col. 1 (5percent) despite the many challenges. 32 billion was allocated to the sector leav- 8 Turn to Page 2, Col. 1 Amiran launches youth Angry parents storm Kenya doing better enterprise fund school, eject teachers than its neighbours —Pg. 4 de —Pg. 13 — UNDP —Pg. 22 I Reforms needed to Global standards Cane poaching crippling change police image sought in coal project Nzoi sugar Ins —Pg. 8 —Pg. 21 —Back Page The Link, February 2012 2 GOVERNANCE From page 1 projected budget of Kshs 73 bil- lion but managed to get Kshs43 billion. Health sector on the brink During the 20/2011 financial tors per 100,000 population and year, the budget requirement was 153 nurses per 100,000 popula- estimated at Kshs 79 billion but tion); compared to WHO recom- the sector only received Kshs mended minimum staffing levels 57,376. In the current financial of 36 doctors and 356 nurses per year which ends in June this year, 100,000 population. the sector had a projected budget He says that although 3,866 of Kshs 92.6 billion but the gov- nurses and 4,800 health work- ernment has only managed to al- ers have been recruited under the locate Kshs 64.1 billion. ESP package and posted to health Projections for the 2012/2013 centres and dispensaries within financial year currently stand at the constituencies countrywide, Kshs143 billion. “The overall the shortages are still glaring and inadequate funding of the sector require immediate attention as the has resulted in huge pending bills country ushers in the devolved at the hospitals and compromised system of government. access to health services across He says that regional dispari- the country,” adds the PS, in a ties in the distribution of the exist- medium term report of the sector. ing health workers has complicat- He says that poverty estimated ed the scenario with arid and semi at 46 percent remains a major ac- arid areas being disadvantaged cess barrier to health services es- due to less staff and predominant pecially by the poor. urban bias The report says that over de- The report at the same time pendency on donor assistance points out that research funding both in terms of amounts and has been relegated to the periphery disbursement had impacted nega- and in some cases research find- tively on the subsector, with about ings have been ignored instead of Health facility in one of the hospitals in Nairobi. 90 percent of the projects in the being translated into policy. sector pegging their survival on The medium term report rec- The report also proposes the The report advocates for a re- the facilities. donors. ommends that the implementation fast tracking of community health view of the existing staffing and Further, the report recom- The PS says that the situation of the new health policy frame- strategy by training more com- infrastructure norms and enforce- mends the hiring of additional had hampered budgetary provi- work be fast tracked to delink the munity based health workers on ment to ensure compliance. health workers to cope with in- sions for health products and tech- sector from service delivery. preventive and promotive health The report underscores the creased demand to health services nologies. “This will ensure the sector care. need to strengthen the Kenya arising from population growth. The report says that the situ- focuses only on policy, regula- It calls for the establishment of Medical Supply Agency (KEM- It also calls for the training of ation has been aggravated by tion and supervision in line with a Health Services Commission to SA) to transform it into a strategic more public health providers and inadequacy of key health staff the new constitution,” reads the allow the sector to focus on policy procurement agency through au- provide incentives for their reten- like doctors and nurses (17 doc- report. and regulation. tomation that links KEMSA and tion in public service. Why Ongeri banned forced repeating of classes From page 1 the minister therefore urged head marks when he released the 2011 several studies that identify learner It only makes the performance of in Kenya is still above average teachers’ to stop the practice be- Kenya Certificate of Primary Edu- achievement at the various forma- the child generally worse. despite the high enrolment figures cause it is detrimental. cation (KCPE) results at the Kenya tive stages so as to put in place in- “I have directed this practice registered since the introduction of Prof Ongeri said teachers who National Examination Council terventions to enhance quality edu- to cease but head teachers do not the Free Primary Education. forcefully make pupils to repeat (KNEC) headquarters, Mtihani cation. seem to have taken this seriously. I Despite the impressive per- classes do them harm than good House in Nairobi. Prof Ongeri cited the National am therefore asking my Permanent formance in SACMEQ III, the re- as research had revealed that most The Minister affirmed that Assessment for Monitoring Learner Secretary to take urgent action,” search findings also showed that pupils perform much better at through his ministry, the KNEC in Achievement (NASMLA) as one of Education Minister, Prof Ongeri repetition has had a negative ef- younger age than when they are collaboration with other stakehold- the barometer used to monitor the reiterated. fect on learning progression and older. Prof Ongeri made the re- ers including donors carried out quality of education. This fact was attested in some of Kenyan children have a right to the worst performing counties such education and should be allowed as Tana River, Kwale, Taita Taveta to go through the education cycle and Kilifi. When the age profile of without any hindrance. Forcing the 2011 KCPE candidates in the children to repeat increases their above mentioned counties was an- age at the end of the cycle and re- alysed, it emerged that they had the search findings have shown that highest numbers of overage stu- children perform poorer when they dents at 19 years and above. KCPE are older,” Prof Ongeri directed. candidates with Kilifi and Kwale The research evidence indicates led the pack with 2,766 and 1,453 that performance is affected nega- over-age candidates respectively in tively by old age. The older the can- the country. didate, the poorer the performance. Parents, teachers and other edu- In 2010 KCPE, the 13 and 14 year cation stakeholders should there- olds scored an average of 227.5 and fore take the Ministry of Education 264.9 respectively while the over- directives seriously and stop forc- age KCPE children of 19 and 20 ing the children to repeat classes years scored an average of 203.11 unless otherwise there is need for and 195.57 respectively.