The KEPSA Education Sector Retreat successfully culminated on 19^th October 2023 in unity of purpose and a shared vision among the sector board members. A pivotal outcome of the retreat was the formation of a dedicated working group tasked with developing a comprehensive sector position paper. The retreat signified commitment to address challenges and drive progress in Kenya's education sector, promising significant advancements in the coming year.

Ms. Rose Eteye, CEO of KPSA, offered a comprehensive overview of the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC). She highlighted challenges, such as misinformation, infrastructure deficits, and a shortage of teachers and learning materials. Ms. Eteye recommended solutions, including tax waivers on digital content, lobbying for a favorable business environment, and addressing misconceptions about the CBC.

The plenary session that followed acknowledged the significance of the CBC curriculum framework's introduction, emphasizing the need to defend its core principles for an inclusive education system. Specific attention was given to addressing the needs of gifted and talented students and the potential to broadcast the Kenyan curriculum beyond the nation's borders.

A key outcome of the day was the decision to develop a sector position paper addressing various CBC-related and education issues. The paper will focus on challenges in CBC implementation, infrastructure requirements, teacher training, cross-border teaching of CBC curriculum, industry-academia collaboration, the new funding model, and the proposal for a panel of volunteer mentors. A working group was established to lead these efforts.

Mr. Paul Odera discussed the significance of sports in education and encouraged broad support for sports' role in students' holistic development within the CBC framework. Mr. Paul Juma emphasized the importance of industry-academia linkages, particularly in light of ongoing educational reforms, and proposed various opportunities for collaboration.

The day concluded with closing remarks from Ms. Wairimu Njage, expressing gratitude for the gathering and highlighting the sector's vibrancy and resilience. She called for the translation of ideas into tangible progress and expressed hope for substantial advancements by the next year's retreat. The event closed with a word of prayer led by KEPSA’s Education Sector Board officer, Ronaldo Juma, symbolizing unity and shared purpose among the sector board members.