- The CS said the government recognises the constitutional provision that guarantees every child the right to free and compulsory basic education.
- He said currently, the construction of 3,500 classrooms is ongoing countrywide with an additional 13,500 expected to commence later.
Image: EDU MIN/X
The government has revealed plans to construct 17,000 classrooms in a matter of months in preparation for the accommodation of Grade 9 learners.
If the government lives up to the pledge, completion of the classrooms by December this year will come a year before the current Grade 8 cohort transitions to Grade 9 in 2025.
The summative Kenya Junior School Education Assessment (KJSEA) in 2025 will mark the transition of the competency-based curriculum (CBC) to senior school from Grades 10-12.
Sh10.9 billion set aside for 3,500 classrooms countrywide
Education CS Julius Ogamba said on Tuesday that Sh10.9 billion has been set aside for the construction of classrooms for the 1.3 million 9 graders.
“I can confirm that significant progress has been made in the construction of the necessary classrooms. Currently, we are constructing 3,500 classrooms countrywide,” Ogamba said.
He spoke at the end of an assessment tour to monitor the turnout as schools reopened on Monday, August 26.
Ogamba visited primary and Junior schools in Nairobi, Machakos and Kajiado counties where he also assessed the progress of classroom construction.
Image: EDU MIN/X
In his press briefing at the Lenana School Primary, the CS said the government recognises the constitutional provision that guarantees every child the right to free and compulsory basic education, saying, “That is why we provide these resources to schools”.
“This week, we will be disbursing Sh7.5 billion to schools to start the construction of a further 7,500 classrooms in schools countrywide. All these classrooms will be completed by December 2024,” Ogamba assured.
“We are also working on the release of Sh3.4 billion to the NG-CDF for the construction of another 6,000 classrooms,” he added.
Concerns
Concerns have, however, been raised over the practicality of putting up the classrooms and other facilities like laboratories by December before the start of Grade 9 lessons in January 2025.
Kuppet officials have advised that with the absence of Form 1 learners next year, there won't be a need for the rush for new classrooms in primary schools since Grade 9 learners can easily transition to secondary schools.
The domiciling of Junior schools in primary schools has been criticised by stakeholders on the arguement that the schools lack the necessary facilities like laboratories for secondary-level learning.
However, the Presidential Working Party on Education Reforms said in its report most parents wanted Junior school domiciled in parent primary schools.
The team noted that parents expressed concerns that at Grade 7 for instance, their children would still be too young to study in secondary schools.
Grade 7, 8 and 9 learners are aged between 12 and 14 years.
At this juncture, the country can only hope that the government will pull the end of its bargain and complete the construction of the 17,000 classrooms on schedule to accomodate the children.
Image: EDU MIN/X
Grade 9 textbooks ready
Meanwhile, CS Ogamba revealed that the requisite textbooks for Grade 9 have been completed and will be distributed to schools countrywide starting next month.
“In sum, therefore, I wish to assure you that we are not taking any chances to ensure that our schools are ready and conducive for our learners. We will work together with all stakeholders to ensure that everything works as efficiently as possible,” he said.
Unlike in primary school where pupils learn in terms of subjects, Junior school has learning areas, nine in number totaling 40 lessons per week.
These are English, Kiswahili, Mathematics and Social Studies as well as Agriculture, Life Skills Education, Business studies, Sports and Physical Education as core subjects
Religious education also falls under core subjects where learners will either study Christian Religious Education, Islamic Religious Education or Hindu Religious Education.
Learners are also taught Integrated Science, Health Education and Pre-Technical and Pre-Career Education as core subjects.
The optional subjects are Visual Arts, Performing Arts, Home Science, Computer Science, foreign languages (German, French, Arabic, Chinese or Mandarin), indigenous language and Kenya Sign Language.
Pre-technical subject prepare learners for the job market by instilling technical skills and knowledge needed to perform specific tasks.
CS Ogamba assured that resources have been budgeted for the retraining of teachers to ensure their skills align with the requirements of the Competency-Based Curriculum.
Nationwide teachers' strike
Speaking on Wednesday in Migori at the start of his four-day tour of Nyanza, President William further assured the country that the process of transitioning Junior School teachers from temporary to permanent and pensionable terms was also underway to bolster the execution of CBC.
The delayed transition of 46,000 JSS teachers was one of the reasons Kuppet called for a nationwide teachers' strike, besides the implementation of their 2021-25 CBA and other issues.
“We already have a budget. Teachers Service Commission and the Ministry of Education are working on modalities for the confirmation of all our JSS teachers," Ruto said.
"I want to ask our JSS teachers to be patient with us as we make the necessary arrangements but to assure them that the money to transition them is already in the budget.”
The Presidential Working Party on Education Reforms had indicated in their report 30,000 teachers would be hired to facilitate transition and bridge the teacher deficit that would be created by Junior secondary.