The Government has assured education stakeholders of adequate preparation for the Competency Based Curriculum (CBC) students’ transition to Junior Secondary schools.
Speaking at Machakos School during the commissioning of two CBC classrooms, Education Cabinet Secretary Prof George Magoha, said that classrooms construction countrywide is now at 90 percent completion adding that he has inspected most classrooms in the country and they are of good standard.
Magoha who had earlier commissioned one classroom at Kyanguli Secondary School said that the counties that have fully completed the construction of CBC classrooms were Mandera, Garissa, Wajir, Meru and Siaya which completed their works five weeks ago.
“I have inspected a number of schools which have fully completed the construction and commissioned the classrooms. There are some close to ten schools that are still lagging behind between 70-85 per cent. I promise to visit those schools and closely monitor the progress to completion,” noted CS Magoha.
“We have constructed over 5, 000 classrooms under the phase 1 of CBC with remaining ones nearing completion. Most of them are at roofing and finishing level. I believe that we shall deliver and the first 6,487 classrooms will be completely built to usher in the remaining balance out of the 10,000 classrooms,” said Magoha.
Magoha further instructed the contractors who were still lagging behind to fasten and complete the construction of the classrooms in the next 10 days.
“The remaining contractors who are still struggling to finish the construction, it is my wish that you complete in the next 10 days. I have been assured by various officers that they are going to give themselves performance targets,” Magoha said.
He said that there are adequate teachers for Grade 6 who are undergoing training which begin next month in addition to teachers for Grade 7 and 8 who will commence in January next year.
“I would like to say that teachers for Grade 6 which is starting next month have been trained in adequate numbers and are ready to work, teachers for January next year have also started attending various training for the purposes of Grade 7 and 8 students,” assured Magoha.
Magoha pleaded with parents to accept the Kenya Certificate of Primary Education Students (KCPE) results for their children and do their part in preparation for high school adding that the government will help poor families.
“I am pleading with the parents to play their part because the economy has been extremely difficult, so don’t send your child to boarding school empty handed or to day school without uniform and the very poor ones, the government is going to help to an extent,” said CS Magoha.
“Under the instruction of the President, we should give every child fair opportunity and there must be a safety valve for the children who are from the slums to get to the top schools,” added Magoha.
Magoha further urged the public secondary school principals not to be quick in sending students back home instead they ought to listen to the parents who may not be able to fully pay school fees on time.
“Do not send children away because they have no uniform. I urge all high school principals to ensure that they come to the rescue of those students who get admitted without school uniforms and buy them one,” urged Magoha.
The CS added that marking of Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) was on schedule and assured that the results would be delivered on time.
“Marking of the recently completed KCSE is underway and as a ministry, we wish to assure the candidates and the public that the results will be delivered on time. No one should be worried about the same since we have adequate examiners,” said Magoha.
In attendance was the Machakos County Director of Education Mrs Margaret Mwirigi, who said that her office would work round the clock to ensure that the classrooms are constructed within the 10 days.
She said that the county was at 84 percent completion of the CBC classrooms where Yatta Sub-County has already completed and handed over 26 classrooms with Athi River and Kangundo Sub -Counties having completed and handed over 12 classrooms each.
The county is constructing a total of 253 classrooms and 76 of the classrooms have already been completed and handed over, 66 are at the finishing stage, 63 at roofing while 48 of them are at walling stage.
The Government, through the Ministry of Education introduced CBC in 2019. In preparation for the smooth transition into junior secondary school in 2023, the government has established the CBC Infrastructure Development Programme to upscale the current infrastructure to accommodate CBC needs in the targeted schools by constructing 11,600 classrooms.
The Multi-Agency Taskforce has been set up to coordinate the implementation of the programme and ensure effective and timely communication of the programme.
By Rachel Kilonzo and Janet Shitote
