Junior Secondary School Classrooms to be Ready by End Month, Says CS Ogamba.
Out of the 16,000 classrooms required for the first cohort of Grade 9 learners, approximately 14,500 have been successfully constructed nationwide.
The Ministry of Education, under the leadership of Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba, is working to ensure the remaining classrooms are completed by the end of the month.
During the commissioning of Grade 9 classrooms in Sotik and Konoin, Bomet County, Ogamba highlighted the Ministry’s multi-agency approach to guarantee a seamless transition for learners.
He emphasized the need to address any arising challenges by escalating issues and finding solutions, including temporary measures like merging lower-grade classes to prioritize Grade 9 learners.
Resources and Teacher Availability
Ogamba reported the distribution of 9.9 million books across all learning areas, ensuring every student receives books at a 1:1 ratio as they report to school.
Distribution efforts are ongoing in areas yet to receive their allocations. Regarding teaching staff, the Ministry has hired nearly 76,000 teachers for Junior Secondary Schools.
In regions facing teacher shortages, primary school teachers are being reassigned to teach JSS classes based on their competencies.
The Cabinet Secretary reiterated the government’s dedication to achieving 100% learner transition from Grade 6 to 7, as stipulated in Article 53 of the Constitution.
He urged teachers to allow students lacking uniforms or other essentials to attend school and grant them time to procure the required items.
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During visits to schools such as Mogoywet, Ndanai, Chepkochun, and Chorwet Comprehensive Schools, Ogamba was accompanied by Members of Parliament Francis Sigei (Sotik) and Brighton Yegon (Konoin).
The MPs commended the initiative but appealed for additional funding for desks, noting they were excluded from the original classroom construction budget.
Funding and Budget Allocation
The Ministry of Education allocated KSh11 billion for constructing 11,000 classrooms, while the National Treasury disbursed KSh7.8 billion to the National Government Constituency Development Fund (NG-CDF) to support the construction of 5,000 additional classrooms.
This funding supports the Competency-Based Curriculum rollout for the Grade 9 cohort.
Stakeholders emphasized the need for a supplementary budget to address gaps such as desk provision, ensuring all classrooms are fully equipped for effective learning.
Junior Secondary School Classrooms to be Ready by End Month, Says CS Ogamba.
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