Lead image for Alumni set to join school boards as Bill cuts members from 17 to nine.
Former students are set to join the boards that govern public schools for the first time under a proposed law that also seeks to slash the size of school management teams.
The Basic Education Bill, 2025 proposes to bring alumni into school Boards of Management (BOMs) to strengthen their ties with their former schools and drive development.
Additionally, the Bill seeks to cut the membership of BOMs from the current 14 regular appointed members plus up to 3 additional co-opted members to a maximum of nine, in line with the State Corporations Advisory Committee's Mwongozo Code of Governance, which advocates leaner boards.
Education Ministry Director-General Elyas Abdi told the National Assembly Committee on Education that the changes are intended to make boards more efficient and reduce the cost of governance, as board members are paid sitting allowances.
"Currently, the composition of BOMs is 14 members, but now we are cutting them down to nine in line with the Mwongozo Code because they earn sitting allowances. What we currently have is a crowd, so we want to limit the membership," Dr Abdi said.
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The proposed law, sponsored by the Ministry of Education, also formally recognises alumni associations by allowing every basic education institution to establish one.
If MPs approve the Bill, each comprehensive, primary and senior school board will include one person nominated by the institution's alumni association, alongside representatives of parents, sponsors, persons living with disabilities, professionals, the County Director of Education and the head of the institution.