High percentage of transition from primary to secondary education has exerted pressure on existing infrastructure in many secondary schools.
Mathioya MP Peter Kimari has said some schools are forced to improvise some buildings and turn them into classrooms so as to accommodate the big number of Form One students.
Kimari on Saturday said that most of the money allocated to National Government – Constituency Development Fund is being used to support schools to put up classrooms and other needed infrastructure to accommodate the influx of students.
Speaking as he lauded the 100 percent transition policy, Kimari said there is need for government to allocate more funds which will address the shortage of infrastructure in secondary schools.
The legislator noted that in Mathioya many schools are in need of funds to improve existing infrastructure and also put up new classrooms, dormitories among other facilities.
Kimari was speaking at Kiriaini Girls School during a prize-giving day and also an occasion to mark the school’s 50th anniversary.
“In Mathioya sub county, this year we attained 99.9 percent transition to secondary education and local schools are in need of expansion of existing infrastructure,” added Kimari.
Meanwhile the MP said this financial year, CDF has set aside Sh27 million for bursary programmes to ensure none of the learners in secondary and university will drop out.
He said, “Sh3 million will be given to Kiriaini Girls to put up an ablution block to help in catering for big number of students after the school admitted more than 400 Form Ones this year.”
Speaking during the same occasion Murang’a County Director of Education Ms Anna Kiilu said Murang’a County has recorded about 127 transition due to students from other counties joining Murang’a schools.
She noted that in Mathioya sub county six last year’s KCPE candidates are yet to join secondary schools.
Three out of the six candidates, Kiilu said are expectant and two opted to repeat class eight and one candidate is at large.
Murang’a county secondary schools, she added have enrolled 34,218 students, despite the fact primary schools registered 26,602 in the last year KCPE.
The director asked parents to be keen on the behaviour of their children saying cases of pregnancies among school going children should be curtailed.
“The students who are pregnant will be allowed to go to school after they deliver. My office will follow up to see the affected girls proceed with their education,” added Kiilu.
By Bernard Munyao
