TSC INTERVIEW NOTES-21 Questions and Answers
MINISTRY OF EDUCATION
1. What is the structure of the ministry of education?
Cabinet secretary
Principal secretaries: state dep’t of science & technology, state dep’t of education
Science & technology secretary/education secretary- Professional Arm (SAGAS & Administration Department)
Directors of education- science & tech, technical & vocational edn, primary edn, sec & tertiary edn, university edn, schools audit, adult & continuing edn, youth training.
Administration support
County director of education, science and technology
2. What is the overall role of the cabinet secretary in charge of education?
Provide free and compulsory basic education to every child
Ensure compulsory admission and attendance of children of compulsory school age at school or an institution of offering basic education.
Ensure that children belonging to marginalised, vulnerable, or disadvantaged groups are not discriminated against and prevented from pursuing and completing basic education
Provide human resource including teaching and non-teaching staff, infrastructure including school buildings; learning and teaching equipment’s; and appropriate financial resources
Ensure quality basic education conforming to the set standards and norms;
Provide special education and training facilities for talented and gifted pupils and pupils with disabilities
Ensure compulsory admission, attendance, and completion of basic education by every pupil;
Monitor functioning of schools.
3. What is the role of the principal secretary and education secretary?
Principal secretary
- Is the top civil servant and the accounting officer in the ministry
- Executes policy matters concerning education
- Formulates and implement’s policies
- In charge of overall supervision and control matters related to parastatal bodies and institutions under the ministry of education e.g. JKF, KICD etc.
- Chairs the cabinet management committee and he is also a member of board of higher institutions of learning and education councils e.g. UON council
Education secretary
- Who publishes for the ministry of education?
4. What is the role of KICD, inspectorate and KNEC?
KICD
- Advise the government on matters pertaining to curriculum development
- Evaluate, vet, and approve for application in Kenya, any local or foreign curricula and curriculum support materials in relation to the levels of education and training.
- implement the policies relating to curriculum development in basic and tertiary education and training.
- Develop, review and approve programmes, curricular and curriculum support materials that meet international standards for – (i) early childhood care, development, and education; (ii) pre-primary education, (iii) primary education, (iv) secondary education, (v) adult, continuing and non-formal education, (vi) teacher education and training, (vii) special needs education, and (viii) technical and vocational education and training.
- Initiate and conduct research to inform curriculum policies, review and development.
- Collect document and catalogue information on curricula, curriculum support materials and innovations to create a data bank and disseminate the information to educational institutions, learners, and other relevant organisations.
- Print, publish and disseminate information relating to curricula for basic and tertiary education and training.
- Collaborate with other individuals and institutions in organizing and conducting professional development programmes for teachers, teacher trainers, quality assurance and standard officers and other officers involved in education and training on curriculum programmes and materials
- Develop, disseminate and transmit programmes and curriculum support materials through mass media, electronic learning, distance learning and other mode of delivering education and training programme materials.
- Promote appropriate utilisation of technology to enhance3 innovations and achievements of a knowledge based economy.
- Offering consultancy services in basic and tertiary education and training.
- Incorporate national values, talent development and leadership values in curriculum development.
- Receive, consider, develop and review curriculum proposals.
DIRECTORATE OF QUALITY ASSURANCE AND STANDARDS
- Establishing, maintaining, and improving standards in all basic and training institutions
- Quality assurance and standards assessment of basic educational and training
- Coordination, organization, and implementation of co-curriculum activities at national and international levels
- Vetting of expatriate teachers and institutions offering international curriculum
- Liaison with KNEC on assessment of pre-service primary, ECDE and diploma teacher education examination teaching practice
- Policy formulation and implementation on matters related to quality assurance
- Developing of assessment standards
- Liaison with KNEC in moderation, awards and National assessment and learning achievement (NASMLA) and examinations
- Liaison with KICD on curriculum design, development and evaluation.
- Talent identification and development in schools and colleges
- Advising the cabinet secretary and principal secretary on all matters of quality assurance and standards in the country.
KNEC
- It performs the administration of primary, secondary, and tertiary examinations on behalf of the Government.
- It test-runs draft curricula and carries out equivalence procedures of certificates and diplomas issued by other examining bodies.
- It awards certificates and diplomas to successful candidates in such examinations
- It makes rules regulating the conduct of examinations and for all purpose incidental where to
5. Differentiate between the roles of the BOM and PTA in a School.
BOM
(a)promote the best interests of the institution and ensure its development;
(b) promote quality education for all pupils in accordance with the standards set under this Act or any other written law;
c) ensure and assure the provision of proper and adequate physical facilities for the institution;
(d) manage the institution’s affairs in accordance with the rules and regulations governing the occupational safety and health;
(e) advise the County Education Board on the staffing needs of the institution;
(f) determine cases of pupils’ discipline and make reports to the County Education Board;
(g) prepare a comprehensive termly report on all areas of its mandate and submit the report to the County Education Board;
(h) facilitate and ensure the provision of guidance and counseling to all learners;
(i) provide for the welfare and observe the human rights and ensure safety of the pupils, teachers, and non-teaching staff at the institution;
(j) encourage a culture of dialogue and participatory democratic governance at the institution;
(k) promote the spirit of cohesion, integration, peace, tolerance, inclusion, elimination of hate speech, and elimination of tribalism at the institution;
(l) encourage the learners, teachers and non-teaching staff and other, parents and the community, and other stakeholders to render voluntary services to the institution;
(m) allow reasonable use of the facilities of the institution for community, social and other lawful purposes, subject to such reasonable and equitable conditions as it may determine including the charging of a fee;
(n) administer and manage the resources of the institution;
(o) receive, collect and account for any funds accruing to the institution;
(p) recruit, employ and remunerate such number of non-teaching staff as may be required by the institution in accordance with this Act; and
q) perform any other function to facilitate the implementation of its functions under this Act or any other written law.
ROLE OF PTA
The functions of the Parents Association shall be to—
(a) promote quality care, nutritional and health status of the pupils;
(b) maintain good working relationship between teachers and parents;
(c) discuss, explore, and advise the parents on ways to raise funds for the physical development and maintenance;
(d) explore ways to motivate the teachers and pupils to improve their performance in academic and co- curricular activities;
(e) discuss and recommend charges to be levied on pupils or parents;
(f) undertake and oversee development projects on behalf of the whole Parents Association.
(g) assist the school management in the monitoring, guidance, counseling and disciplining of pupils; and
(h) discuss and recommend measures for the welfare of staff and pupils.6.
6. What is the composition of the board of management of a school and how are they chosen?
The Board of Management established under section 55 shall consist of the following members appointed by the County Education Board:
(a) six persons elected to represent parents of the pupils in the school or local community in the case of county secondary schools;
(b) one person nominated by the County Education Board;
(c) one representative of the teaching staff in the school elected by the teachers;
(d) three representatives of the sponsors of the school;
(e) one person to represent special interest groups in the community; and
(f) one person to represent persons with special needs;
(g) a representative of the students’ council who shall be an ex officio member
7. What does the ‘orange Book’ contain?
Approved list of text books and other instructional materials for schools.
