Junior Secondary Crisis Looms as More Students Join Grade Nine
Over 23,000 junior secondary schools in Kenya are bracing for a crisis due to a steep increase in student population, which is expected to cause significant congestion, a shortage of tutors, and overstretched facilities as the pioneer class graduates from Grade 8 to 9 in January.
Interviews with several school heads reveal a grim scenario, describing it as a nightmare due to the lack of classrooms, laboratories, and teachers for the additional class.
Adding to the challenge, the institutions will also welcome a new set of Grade One pupils transitioning from pre-primary school.
The chairman of the Kenya Primary Schools Heads Association (Kepsha), Johnson Nzioka, warned that both Grade 9 and Grade One will require extra facilities to ensure a smooth transition.
He highlighted that secondary schools faced similar pressures with the 100 percent transition policy, leading some to use dining halls as makeshift classrooms due to insufficient facilities.
The Ministry of Education has committed to constructing 16,000 classrooms to facilitate this transition, but with only six months remaining, stakeholders are concerned about the tight timeline.
On Thursday, Education Cabinet Secretary Ezekiel Machogu assured that classrooms for Grade 9 would be ready by December, with the first phase of 3,500 classrooms already underway and expected to be completed within four months.
He mentioned that the government has allocated Sh3.5 billion for this project and plans to release more funds in the upcoming financial year.
However, skepticism remains among stakeholders. A headteacher interviewed by the Standard questioned the adequacy of a single classroom for schools with multiple Grade 8 streams, pondering where the additional learners would be accommodated.
National Parents Association chairman Silas Obuhatsa noted that with only 3,500 classrooms expected to be ready soon, a deficit of 12,500 classrooms still exists, casting doubt on the government’s ability to meet the required number by next year.
In April, the Ministry of Education dismissed a proposal to move the final grade of junior secondary to secondary schools, ensuring that the pioneer class of the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC) will remain in their current institutions for Grade 9.
Basic Education Principal Secretary Belio Kipsang downplayed concerns about the preparedness of junior schools to host Grade 9 learners.
The transition is further complicated by an anticipated shortage of teachers.
The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) plans to employ 20,000 new intern teachers, but this is uncertain due to a pending court case challenging the legality of hiring interns on a contract basis.
In April, the Employment and Labour Relations Court ruled that TSC had violated the law by recruiting university graduates with practicing licenses as interns, putting the plan in jeopardy.
Critics also express concerns over the lack of proper guidance on laboratories and workshops required for Grade 9.
While some schools have acquired mobile laboratories from the School Equipment Production Unit, many institutions face uncertainty.
In Our Other News: CS Machogu Unveils National Education Sector Strategic Plan (NESSP) 2023-2027: Key Pillars
Additionally, textbooks and curriculum guides are critical for the transition. The Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development director, Charles Ong’ondo, mentioned that Grade 9 textbooks are currently under review before publication.
In summary, the upcoming transition for junior secondary schools in Kenya presents significant challenges, including facility shortages, teacher recruitment issues, and logistical concerns, all of which need urgent addressing to ensure a smooth academic progression for students.
Junior Secondary Crisis Looms as More Students Join Grade Nine
