Ministry of Education to Construct 1,600 JSS Laboratories
Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba has announced that the government has built more than 14,000 classrooms across the country in the last three months to accommodate students moving from primary schools to junior secondary schools (JSSs).
This effort is part of the larger initiative to ensure sufficient infrastructure for the new educational phase under the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC).
At a visit to Uthiru Primary School in Nairobi County on Tuesday, Ogamba reported that 14,500 of the 16,000 classrooms required for Grade 9 students are already in place.
Ogamba revealed plans to construct 1,600 laboratories this year to ensure JSS students can access science facilities. This move aims to prepare learners for STEM pathways.
“This year we are starting the construction of 1600 laboratories to ensure that the JSS students have access to laboratories and are exposed to science subjects so that when they go on the pathway of STEM they are not completely green,” stated the CS.
Textbook Availability
The minister highlighted that more than 9.9 million textbooks have been printed to address the shortage faced when JSSs were introduced in January 2023 under the CBC. He emphasized that each student would be provided with their own textbooks for all subjects.
Ogamba reassured parents that textbooks would be supplied by the government, emphasizing that they should not feel the need to purchase these resources independently.
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In addition to education-related announcements, Ogamba urged parents to ensure their children are registered with the Social Health Authority (SHA). Despite the challenges associated with the new public healthcare system, he assured that efforts are underway to resolve these issues.
The CS emphasized that the registration is important, as it will provide future health benefits for children. He encouraged parents to overlook the initial difficulties, assuring them that the system will ultimately support their children’s well-being.
Ministry of Education to Construct 1,600 JSS Laboratories
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