As schools prepare to resume the normal education calendar, the government has approved 51 out of 61 schools in Mwea West for admission of pupils to junior secondary schools.
Mwea West education director Paul Kigaya lauded the schools for their preparedness and efforts in making the Competency-Based Curriculum a success, saying the schools approved are both public and private, and can accommodate up to 2,500 students.
Kigaya said the subcounty has a total 2,300 pupils who will be graduating to junior secondary, thus the additional 200 slots can be filled up by students from across and outside the county.
Speaking on Friday, the education official said that during their inspection tours of schools, they assessed the status of the labs design, school size and admission criteria, among others.
Kigaya decried that most schools that were denied permit failed to follow the laid down instructions, especially in the science lab designs.
The education official said it was better and cost saving to convert the old unused classrooms into labs, rather than building new labs which failed to surpass the threshold.
“In order for a school to be okayed to offer junior secondary schools education, it had to fulfil some government approved specifications,” he said. “Those schools that were not approved, still have a second chance to correct their mistakes so that they may be allowed as well.”
He assured pupils from schools that were not approved that they would not be left behind in enrolling into junior high schools as proper arrangements have been made.
“We have a lot of slots across all the approved 51 schools. Therefore, those whose schools will not be embarking in offering the new education system will be enrolled in the neighbouring schools and those which parents will prefer,” Kigaya said.
Speaking while assessing the state of Kutus Municipality Primary School, Kigaya said inspection of junior secondary schools will be continuous in bid to ensure efficiency in their running.
He added that the assessment was and will continue being tackled through a multi-sectoral approach even as he thanked all the stakeholders for their dedication and cooperation.
Kutus Municipality Primary school head teacher Duncan Karanja said that they are ready for the learners joining the school, adding that the academic staff were prepared to offer their teaching services.
He assured parents that school fees will not be increased but the school will follow the normal fees structure as it was for the defunct Class 7 academic year.
Karanja called on all stakeholders, particularly the parents, to unanimously support the CBC as it is the most relevant and practical education system for the modern world.
(edited by Amol Awuor)