Churches Want JSS Moved to Secondary School
Several sponsor churches in the North Rift region have joined the ongoing debate regarding the appropriate placement for Junior Secondary School (JSS), advocating for its integration into secondary schools.
The Kapsabet ACK Diocese’s Bishop, Paul Korir, expressed his view that secondary schools are better equipped with the necessary infrastructure to accommodate JSS, compared to primary schools.
Bishop Korir emphasized that secondary schools possess more sufficient and appropriate classroom facilities for the JSS curriculum.
He argued that relocating JSS to secondary schools could result in significant savings, as it would eliminate the need for the government to allocate billions of shillings to the construction of new Grade 9 classrooms across the country.
Staffing Concerns and Teacher Recruitment
A key concern highlighted by Bishop Korir is the current teacher-learner ratio, which he described as far below acceptable levels.
He pointed out that many schools in the region are severely understaffed, which is particularly troubling given the high student population.
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To address this issue, Bishop Korir urged the government to prioritize the recruitment and deployment of additional teachers to ensure adequate staffing.
Bishop Korir also called for the urgent initiation of mental health campaigns, citing the increasing prevalence of mental health issues as a major challenge in the region.
He noted that the rising cases of mental illness in the country have reached concerning levels, using an example where a person fails to answer a ringing phone as an indicator of potential mental health issues.
He stressed the importance of addressing this problem through targeted mental health campaigns.
Call for Government Consultation
The church sponsors also expressed their desire for greater involvement in the decision-making processes related to school management.
They urged the government to consult them on matters affecting the operation of schools to prevent conflicts similar to those observed in some institutions within the region.
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In response to the growing demand for classroom space, the government has set a target to build at least 16,000 classrooms for Grade 9 students by January 2025, with a budget allocation of Ksh3.4 billion dedicated to this initiative.
Churches Want JSS Moved to Secondary School
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