Construction of 9,000 Grade Nine Classrooms Begins
The construction of 9,000 classrooms for Grade Nine learners has commenced, with the government mandating schools to use the allocated funds solely for this purpose.
Each classroom is estimated to cost Sh1 million, making the total project cost approximately Sh9 billion.
Dr. Belio Kipsang, the Principal Secretary for Basic Education, stated that this initiative is part of the Kenya Primary Education Equity in Learning (KPEEL) program.
The program aims to reduce regional disparities in learning outcomes, improve retention rates of girls in upper primary levels, and enhance systems for equitable education delivery.
Details of the program were shared in a circular dated June 13, addressed to Regional, County, and Sub-County Directors of Education.
Classrooms will be allocated to learning institutions based on their enrollment. The Ministry has issued guidelines for the construction, which include new classrooms in both refugee and non-refugee host communities.
The guidelines stipulate that funds for Grade 9 classrooms and Integrated Learning Resource Centres are to be used exclusively for these projects.
Funding and Timeline
The World Bank will fund the first phase of construction as part of the Competency-Based Education (CBE) initiative, with Grade 8 students transitioning to Grade 9 next year.
The goal is to build at least 16,000 classrooms by January, with 9,000 funded by the World Bank at a cost of Sh9 billion.
Additional classrooms will be financed through the National Government Constituency Development Fund (NG-CDF).
Beneficiary schools must open a specific project account managed by the Chairpersons of the Board of Management (BoM), Junior School Committee, Parents Association, and the head teacher.
The head teacher must sign all transactions. The construction should be completed within three months from the contract signing date.
The infrastructure budget must be approved by the BoM, with payments made only for completed work as specified in the Costed Bill of Quantities (BQs).
No variations are allowed without explicit permission from the Principal Secretary. Schools must follow the provided designs and BQs, ensuring material quality meets specified standards.
Schools must maintain comprehensive financial records, including payment vouchers, invoices, cash sale vouchers, summaries of receipts and expenditures, bank statements, and meeting minutes.
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The head of the institution must comply with the Public Procurement and Assets Disposal Act, 2015, and ensure accessibility for persons with disabilities.
Stakeholders should be consulted throughout the construction phases. Environmental and social safeguards must be properly managed to mitigate risks and enhance the project’s performance, including child protection, learner safety, and waste management.
Project coordination and implementation will be supervised at multiple levels: national, regional (by Regional Directors of Education), county (by County Directors of Education), sub-county (by Sub-County Directors of Education), and at the school level.
Construction of 9,000 Grade Nine Classrooms Begins
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