Ministry of Education Focuses on Classroom Readiness Ahead of Senior School Transition

Ministry of Education Focuses on Classroom Readiness Ahead of Senior School Transition.

To ensure a smooth transition to junior secondary school under the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC), the government allocated Sh18 billion for Grade Nine infrastructure development. Initially targeting 16,000 classrooms, the plan expanded to 18,000 classrooms to be delivered in three phases.

Phase one, comprising 3,500 classrooms, is nearing completion, while phase two, involving 7,500 classrooms, has commenced.

Additionally, NG-CDF is set to support the construction of 6,800 classrooms, with Nairobi County receiving an extra Sh1 billion due to unique challenges.

Basic Education Principal Secretary (PS) Belio Kipsang stated that students will be required to select their areas of specialisation upon reaching Grade 9.

Pathways for Specialisation

PS Kipsang explained that current Grade 8 students, who will transition to Grade 9 next year, will have the option to choose from three academic pathways: Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM), the Arts, and Sports Discipline courses.

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He was speaking during an event in Dagoretti South, Nairobi, while overseeing the distribution of Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) examination papers.

To ensure the seamless execution of the new system, the Ministry plans to conduct multiple simulations starting in 2025. These trial runs aim to fine-tune the placement process ahead of the official rollout in 2026.

Kipsang highlighted that all senior schools will offer STEM courses, ensuring students have diverse academic and career development opportunities. This initiative is part of a larger effort to enhance Kenya’s education system and prepare learners for future challenges.

KCSE Exam Administration

The PS commended the multi-agency team managing the ongoing KCSE examinations, which have been in progress for four weeks. He expressed satisfaction with the smooth conduct of the exams, noting that the process had met national expectations.

Addressing concerns about cheating, Kipsang reported that incidences of examination malpractices this year were significantly lower compared to previous years.

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He attributed this improvement to increased efforts in upholding the integrity of the examination process.

Looking ahead, Kipsang announced that the marking of KCSE exams would commence immediately after the last paper, scheduled for completion on Friday.

The Ministry remains committed to ensuring a smooth and credible assessment process.

Ministry of Education Focuses on Classroom Readiness Ahead of Senior School Transition.

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