Principal Secretary Julius Bitok has officially handed over leadership of the State Department for Basic Education to his successor, John Lekakeny Ololtuaa, following a recent government reshuffle announced by President William Ruto.
Bitok was reassigned to the State Department for Tourism in the Ministry of Tourism and Wildlife, replacing Ololtuaa, who has now taken charge of the Basic Education docket.
The leadership transition comes at a time when the education sector is facing challenges arising from student unrest in several secondary schools across the country. The disturbances have led to the temporary closure of some institutions, although learning has since resumed in many schools after normalcy was restored.
In a statement shared on social media, Bitok expressed gratitude for the opportunity to serve in the education sector and pledged continued dedication in his new role.
“It has been an honour and privilege to serve in this role and work alongside dedicated stakeholders committed to transforming education in our country,” Bitok said.
“As I embark on my new assignment at the State Department for Tourism, I remain grateful for the support accorded to me and look forward to serving Kenyans in this new capacity. I wish PS Ololtuaa every success as he takes over the mantle,” he added.
Bitok was moved from the state department for citizen service and replaced by Dr. Belio Kipsang, who was Basic Education PS.
The handover comes as the Ministry of Education rolls out measures aimed at addressing the recent wave of student unrest reported in schools across the country.
Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba on Wednesday announced plans to rationalise the school calendar beginning next year to ensure a more balanced distribution of school terms.
“Starting next academic year, the Ministry shall rationalise the school calendar to ensure balanced terms across the school year,” Ogamba said.
According to the ministry, 204 secondary schools have experienced incidents of student unrest in recent months, prompting the government to introduce interventions aimed at improving discipline, safety and learning conditions.
“We have so far received reports of unrest affecting 204 senior schools across the country. Already, learners in 59 of these schools have since returned and resumed their studies, with more continuing to return,” Ogamba said.
The Cabinet Secretary noted that the affected institutions account for less than two per cent of all secondary schools nationwide.
“From our analysis of reports across the country, less than two per cent of the country’s senior schools have been affected by unrest, meaning that over 98 per cent of schools remain stable and continue normal operations,” he said.
Ogamba added that most of the affected institutions are boarding schools, while day schools have largely remained unaffected.
The ministry said preliminary assessments have identified several factors contributing to student unrest, including leadership challenges in schools, examination-related anxiety, poor boarding conditions, alcohol and substance abuse, strenuous school routines, peer influence and copycat behaviour.
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