KISE partners with MoE and disability organizations to equip EARC and establish new ones across the country
The Kenya Institute of Special Education (KISE) has partnered with the Ministry of Education (MoE) and various disability organizations to upgrade existing Education Assessment and Resource Centres (EARC) and establish new ones across the country.
This started in January 2024 and is a game changer in Special Needs Education (SNE) in Kenya. It will not only improve assessment and placement of learners with special needs but also redefine the job descriptions of officers in the sector.
Historical Context: TSC and MoE Divide
Before 2010 Constitution:
- SNE was under the MoE and officers worked as EARC officials responsible for assessing, placing and referring learners with special needs.
After TSC Autonomy:
- The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) took over all EARC officers and rebranded them as Curriculum Support Officers Special Needs Education (CSO SNE).
- The Directorate of Special Needs Education (DSNE) remained under the MoE and created a divide between MoE and TSC.
MoE and TSC Tensions Over SNE Reforms
Presidential Working Party on Education and Reforms (PWPER) 2023 Recommendation:
- MoE through KISE should oversee EARC centres at regional and county levels.
- EARC’s main role would be functional assessment, a function currently done by CSO SNE under TSC.
Implications for CSO SNE Officers:
- There is uncertainty among CSO SNE officers who are now facing the possibility of being replaced or reassigned duties.
- MoE will soon recruit new EARC officers and reduce TSC’s role in SNE further.
Government’s Stand on Overlapping Roles:
- Government is merging organizations with similar roles to improve efficiency.
- MoE and TSC will have to streamline their responsibilities to avoid duplication of work.
The Way Forward for Special Needs Education in Kenya
- Accessibility: More EARC centres will mean more access to assessment and resources for children with special needs.
- Role Clarity: Government must sort out MoE and TSC to avoid uncertainty for officers and smooth implementation of SNE.
- Job Shift: CSO SNE officers may have to apply for MoE jobs or wait for TSC to reassign.
As SNE in Kenya is being restructured, we wait to see how MoE and TSC will merge their roles.
This matter is taking too long to be sorted. By now we need to be knowing what will happen. It’s a terrible thing for anyone to operate in suspense especially on a delicate matter affecting these vulnerable kids.