The International Journal of Humanities and Social Studies Status of Quality Assurance and Standards in Education in Kakamega County, Kenya

Abstract

While the role of Quality Assurance and Standards Officers in quality education has been a topic of much discussion, there has also been a clarion call for the Ministry of Education to streamline activities in the Directorate of Quality Assurance and Standards with a view to making it more effective and efficient in the provision of quality education in tandem with its vision. This study attempted to answer the grand tour question of what meaning QASOs make of navigating through their constitutional mandate including impediments encountered. This question was addressed through a phenomenological design to allow for respondents' voices to emerge through ten interviews. Themes of inadequate human resources, finances, legal framework and under professionalization were emergent. MoE had the capacity and potential to address these emergent issues by implementing some of the numerous recommendations suggested in the studies carried out on Quality assurance and standards including formation of a Quality Assurance and Standards Council that would go a long way in professionalizing Quality Assurance and Standards in Kenya.