The government will this week be disbursing Sh7.5 Billion to schools to start the construction of an additional 7,500 classrooms which will be completed by December, 2024.
Education Cabinet Secretary (CS) Julius Ogamba said that regarding preparations for Grade 9, significant progress has been made in the construction of the necessary classrooms where currently they are constructing 3,500 classrooms countrywide.
“We are also working on the release of Sh3.4 billion to the NG-CDF for the construction of another 6,000 classrooms,” said the CS.
Speaking on Monday at Lenana School Primary, Ogamba said that the requisite Grade 9 textbooks will be distributed to schools countrywide starting next month.
“This morning I visited a number of Primary and Junior Schools across Kajiado, Machakos and Nairobi Counties. I have sampled a few schools to witness and confirm the resumption of school operations for the third term. I have also had occasion to monitor the progress of the construction of Grade 9 classrooms,” said the CS.
He thanked the Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) for the decision to call off the teachers’ strike saying that the decision was timely because it has enabled the re-opening of schools.
“I commend them for reading the mood of the Nation and acting with selfless patriotism. Seamless operation in our schools is particularly important this term, as our children prepare for the different national assessments and examinations due in a few months’ time,” said the CS.
Ogamba said that they appreciate the critical and indispensable role that teachers play in the education ecosystem insisting that they cannot afford to take them for granted.
“This is why as a government, we will do all we can to better their terms and conditions of service. We will also continue to equip them and to build their capacity, so that they are better prepared to discharge their mandate as we roll out the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC),” explained the CS.
Ogamba explained that already, resources have been provided for the implementation of the 2021-2025 Collective Bargaining Agreement and they have also provided resources for the retooling of teachers, to make them CBC-ready.
“The other issues that had been raised by the unions, such as concerns around access to the medical cover, career progression guidelines and promotions of teachers, are also being addressed administratively by the Teachers Service Commission (TSC). The government has given due priority to teachers, despite the various competing needs and the very difficult economic circumstances that we are operating in as a country,” he said.
Ogamba called upon the Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) to review their stance and to call off their strike saying that the government has demonstrated goodwill and readiness to address all the issues raised and therefore see no reason for confrontation.
“Last week, the government disbursed Sh21.8 billion in capitation for Primary, Junior and Secondary Schools. This money is now with the schools. We now expect that schools will resume operations smoothly and that learning will proceed without any disruptions,” said the CS.
Ogamba called upon school managers to make prudent use of the resources that have been disbursed to the schools explaining that these are public resources that have been entrusted to them for the benefit of the learners under their care.
“As the responsible ministry, we are keen on ensuring that every cent that is disbursed to schools, is accounted for. We will not hesitate to take swift action should any case of misappropriation be established,” warned the CS.
Ogamba said that they do not expect that any child will be sent away from school for unauthorized levies warning that their field officers are under firm instructions to report any such cases to his office for immediate action.
“In the same vein, school heads should not withhold examination certificates due to candidates, on account of unpaid school fees. Certificates are the right of every student who sits national examinations. School heads should find other administrative ways of ensuring that students pay any fee balances, without hindering their progression by withholding their certificates,” said the CS.
Ogamba assured that they are not taking any chances to ensure that schools are ready and conducive for the learners saying that they will work together with all stakeholders to ensure that everything works as efficiently as possible.
By Joseph Ng’ang’a
