Wednesday 12th August, 2026 07:22 AM|
Six Bills seeking to change Kenya’s education system have been introduced in the National Assembly, proposing changes to tertiary education funding, basic education, national assessments, teacher training, qualifications, and curriculum development.
The Bills are contained in Kenya Gazette Supplements published on July 24, 2026, and are now before Parliament for consideration.
Parliament’s website confirms that Bills introduced in the National Assembly form part of the House’s legislative business.
Here is what each proposal seeks to change.
Tertiary education funding
The Tertiary Education, Placement and Funding Bill, 2026, proposes a new framework for placing students in universities, colleges and technical and vocational institutions while restructuring how tertiary education is financed.
The Bill states that its object is to provide a framework for “the placement of students and trainees to tertiary institutions; financing students and trainees undertaking tertiary education; and offering coordinated career guidance to students and trainees.”
The proposed law would establish the Kenya Universities and Colleges Central Placement Service and the Tertiary Education Funding Authority.
Under the Bill, the Placement Service would set the framework for placing students and trainees and place them in accredited public tertiary institutions.
The Bill also provides for a Tertiary Education Fund, eligibility for loans, loan applications, debt recovery and obligations of both loanees and employers.
Basic education overhaul
The Basic Education Bill, 2026 proposes a new legal framework covering the administration and delivery of basic education.
Among the areas covered are free and compulsory basic education, admission to schools, school management, county education boards, boards of management, special-needs education, scholarships, and bursaries.
The proposed law also provides for a Kenya Education Management Information System, which would maintain education records and facilitate information sharing.
It further proposes the establishment of a National Council for Education in Marginalized Communities, with provisions covering its functions, powers, board, financing, and administration.
The Bill therefore goes beyond school administration, setting out provisions on funding, special-needs education, scholarships and education data.
National assessment changes
The Kenya National Educational Assessments Council Bill, 2026, proposes the establishment of a new national body to oversee educational assessments.
The Bill provides for the Council’s powers and functions, assessment centres, candidate registration, e-assessment, marking, processing and release of results, and the issuance of certificates and diplomas.
It also contains a dedicated section on examination-related offences.
The proposed law covers “assessment malpractices”, collusion, unauthorised possession or sharing of assessment material, impersonation, forged certificates, damage to assessment materials and other offences.
It would also repeal the existing Kenya National Examinations Council Act, replacing it with the proposed framework.
Teacher training framework
The Pre-Service Education and In-Service Training Bill, 2026 seeks to establish a legal framework for training people before they become teachers and for continued professional development.
The Bill states that its object is “to establish a framework for pre-service education and in-service training.”
It proposes that people seeking registration as teachers undertake pre-service education in accordance with the Teachers Service Commission Act.
The Bill further states that “pre-service education shall be offered in accordance with the programmes, curriculum and curriculum support materials developed by the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development.”
The proposed framework would also require in-service training for teachers and education managers.
It proposes establishing a Kenya Teachers Training College, whose functions would include offering pre-service education, conducting research, and advising the Education Cabinet Secretary.
Qualifications database proposed
The Kenya National Qualifications Framework (Amendment) Bill, 2026 seeks to strengthen regulation and tracking of qualifications awarded in Kenya.
The Bill proposes that the National Qualifications Authority develop the National Qualifications Framework and register institutions that award qualifications.
It states that “The National Qualifications Framework shall be binding on all qualification awarding institutions.”
The proposal would also require the Authority to establish and maintain a national database of qualifications.
Under the Bill, “Every qualification awarding institution shall submit to the Authority” details of national qualifications it awards within 90 days.
An institution would also be prohibited from awarding a national qualification unless it is registered to award that qualification.
KICD powers revised
The Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (Amendment) Bill, 2026 proposes changes to the law governing KICD.
The Bill’s stated objective is “to amend the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development Act Cap. 211A, to streamline the operations of the Institute.”
One proposed change is to replace references to the “Director” with “Chief Executive Officer” and introduce definitions for accreditation and differentiation.
The Bill also proposes replacing references to “tertiary education and training” with “teacher education and training” in specified functions of KICD.
It further proposes that the Cabinet Secretary consult the KICD Council when making regulations and introduces provisions allowing for accreditation of institutions and individuals seeking to develop curricula and programmes for basic education.
The six Bills collectively propose changes across the education pipeline, from placement and financing of tertiary students to teacher preparation, examinations, qualifications, and curriculum development.
They remain legislative proposals subject to parliamentary scrutiny, debate and possible amendment before they can become law.
