The late Professor George Magoha, former Education Cabinet Secretary, left a lasting imprint on Kenya’s education sector through a series of transformative reforms aimed at modernizing learning and improving student outcomes. Known for his decisive leadership, Prof. Magoha’s initiatives ranged from curriculum changes to structural reforms in teacher education and school management, reshaping how students and educators engage with the system.
Among his most notable reforms was the transition from the 8-4-4 system to the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC), introduced in 2017. The CBC system, designed as a 2-6-3-3 model, shifted focus from exam-centric learning to nurturing individual talents and practical skills. Prof. Magoha also championed Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), giving students who fell short of university entry standards a credible alternative and helping address youth unemployment through targeted skill development. Additionally, he re-engineered the National Education Management Information System (NEMIS), introducing a more transparent and centralized platform to prevent fraud and improve school registration and Form One placements.
Other reforms included the launch of Junior Secondary Schools under the CBC framework, allowing students to select preferred schools via online portals, and strict enforcement against sending students home for unpaid fees, encouraging principals to engage parents constructively. Educators and policymakers have praised Prof. Magoha’s measures for creating a more inclusive and adaptable education system, while stakeholders note that the groundwork laid under his leadership provides a strong platform for future innovations in teacher training, curriculum delivery, and student welfare. As Kenya continues to implement and refine CBC, these reforms are expected to enhance learning outcomes and prepare students to thrive in a competitive, skills-driven economy.