Transforming Education Summit: Talking Points During the Sixth Advisory Committee Meeting
Kenya's national statement, delivered by Amb. Martin Kimani, Permanent Representative, as a member of the Advisory Committee
As a member of the Advisory Committee of the Transforming Education Summit, Kenya is honored to participate in this meeting, to engage on issues related to the achievements and way forward after the Summit.
Kenya would like to convey its appreciation to the UN Secretary-General for his Our Common Agenda report, which set the basis for the Transforming Education Summit and raised awareness of the global state of education. The Summit has come up with ways of accelerating progress towards meeting SDG4 and other education-related targets.
Our delegation welcomes the outcomes of the Transforming Education Summit and takes note of the vision statement of the Secretary-General, and the flagship initiatives launched during the Summit related to: education in crisis situations; foundational learning; education for sustainable development; digital learning; gender equality; financing education; and the Youth Declaration.
Kenya has made significant progress in expanding access to education through provision of capitation grants and targeted programmes that address barriers to education for vulnerable learners. There is special attention to enhancing the safety and health of learners, adopting innovative approaches to schooling, mainstreaming learners with disabilities, and addressing gender issues in education.
The Government is keen to enhance the acquisition of foundational skills through curriculum reforms that underscore the development of 21st-century skills. This calls for enhanced engagement and empowerment of parents, involvement of communities, and mechanisms for competency-based assessment and monitoring of learning outcomes.
Kenya is committed to bridging the digital divide by supporting innovative ICT solutions in education and training. The Government is planning to introduce a special service tariff for basic utilities to facilitate seamless access and connectivity to digital learning.
The Government has committed to addressing the welfare of teachers to enable them to be at the forefront of transformation in education. Teachers' remuneration, teaching environment, safety and security, mental health and housing are all critical for enhancing the quality of education.
Domestic funding remains the most significant and sustainable form of funding for education. The Government of Kenya has consistently increased education expenditure over the years, which currently stands as the biggest beneficiary of the 2022/2023 national budget at 25.9% of total public expenditure. The Government intends to increase funding for research, higher education, and Technical, Vocational, Education and Training by enhancing partnerships with the private sector.
Kenya encourages international development partners and governments to continue working together to ensure that sufficient and sustainable funds continue to be mobilized to target and benefit the youth. We reiterate our commitment to working with Member States, the SDG4 High-Level Steering Committee, UN entities, civil society, and other relevant stakeholders to ensure that the outcomes of the Transforming Education Summit contribute to the ongoing education reforms in Kenya.
Let me finish with the following questions: How will the SDG4 High-Level Steering Committee work with member states to ensure implementation of the national commitments? We believe that transforming education needs both digital resources and huge financial investments; however, the critical element is the position of the teacher. What information are we giving member states on how to address the attitude of teachers in the transformation?
I thank you.