The Senate Standing Committee on Education today hosted a delegation of students and members of the Management of the University of the Free State, South Africa, for an engagement aimed at fostering academic exchange and enhancing the students’ understanding of the role of Parliament in education policy, legislation and oversight.

The delegation was led by Dr. Themba Hlatsho, Executive Director of Student Affairs, Sports, Arts & Culture, and was received by Chairperson Sen. Betty Montet, Vice Chairperson Sen. Prof. Margaret Kamar, Sen. Agnes Kavindu, Sen. Johnes Mwaruma, Sen. Seki Ole Kanar and Sen. Nderitu Kinyua.

Giving an overview of the Senate’s mandate, Sen. Betty Montet briefed the delegation on the role of the Senate in representing Counties, legislation and oversight, noting that the Committee is currently undertaking an enquiry into the implementation of Early Childhood Development Education (ECDE) and Vocational Training across the Counties.

Sen. Prof. Margaret Kamar further outlined the Committee’s role in education legislation, policy, budgeting and oversight, as well as its consideration of matters raised through Petitions and Motions.

Sen. Prof. Kamar, who is also a Member of the Pan-African Parliament, highlighted the importance of harmonising standards across the Continent to facilitate the movement of people and goods and enhance opportunities for students and professionals. "Africa must be one to allow free movement of persons and goods with a lot of ease. That is why it is important to have universal standards" she stated.

Welcoming the students to the Senate, Sen. Johnes Mwaruma shared his experience as a teacher for more than 19 years before joining the Senate, noting the importance of representation, legislation and oversight in advancing the interests of Counties and safeguarding devolution.

He encouraged the students to make the most of their visit and wished them a fruitful and enriching stay at the Senate.

On his part, Dr. Themba Hlatsho emphasised the importance of preparing students to become globally competitive through exposure to diverse knowledge and experiences. He noted that the delegation’s visit to Kenya was informed by the alignment between the strategies and vision of universities in the two countries, with excellence and student development remaining key priorities for the University of the Free State.

The students also engaged the Senators in a question-and-answer session, raising various issues relating to ECDE, competency-based education standards and the training of ECDE teachers.

Sen. Agnes Kavindu encouraged the students to develop a strong passion for serving their communities, noting that leadership requires commitment to the people. She also underscored the importance of strengthening skills development, particularly through Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET).

The engagement provided an opportunity for the students and the Committee to exchange perspectives on education and leadership, while highlighting the importance of continued academic and institutional engagement between Kenya and South Africa.