Grade 9 Transition in Shambles Due to Classroom Shortages.
The first cohort of Grade 9 students in Kenya faces a serious challenge: a critical shortage of classrooms.
Despite previous assurances from the Ministry of Education that 16,000 new classrooms would be constructed by January next year, significant delays and confusion have surfaced, putting the plan into question.
Parliament recently highlighted the issue when Members of Parliament (MPs) tasked with overseeing the construction of 6,000 classrooms admitted they were unaware of the new classroom locations.
This lack of coordination has raised concerns over efficient allocation, with MPs emphasizing the need for better communication between the National Assembly and the Ministry of Education.
MPs proposed additional classroom construction through their Maring Fund, aiming to provide educational infrastructure across all constituencies. However, poor coordination between the ministry and MPs has resulted in overlapping efforts and a lack of synergy.
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The Ministry of Education explained that a list of schools was provided to the National Constituency Development Fund (CDF) office, assuming it would be shared with each MP. The ministry has promised to distribute this information directly to MPs to ensure transparency and avoid redundancy.
Funding has also sparked debate, with concerns over the feasibility of building quality classrooms on a budget of one million shillings per classroom.
Nairobi County, facing particularly acute classroom shortages, has set aside an additional 1.5 billion shillings in partnership with the national government to address this gap.
This joint effort will help ensure adequate facilities in the region, but questions remain about similar provisions in other counties.
Moreover, the planned 16,000 classrooms do not include laboratories, essential for high school students. Currently, 1,600 schools lack laboratory facilities, which are critical for a well-rounded education.
To bridge this gap, the government is planning 2,000 virtual labs, aiming to integrate technology into learning for schools without physical labs.
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As the transition approaches, the Ministry of Education has confirmed a capitation of 15,000 shillings per Junior Secondary School learner, with 4,000 shillings allocated for facilities like sanitation and desks.
The ministry also plans to release guidelines for student placement into senior secondary schools early next year.
Grade 9 Transition in Shambles Due to Classroom Shortages.
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