Private schools have been urged to build standalone junior secondary school facilities to accommodate students ahead of the roll out next year.
Education Cabinet Secretary Prof George Magoha said the move will mitigate congestion challenges as the ministry gears up for 100 per cent transition for the first CBC Grade Six learners to junior secondary schools.
Speaking at Namgoi Secondary School in Nandi County after commissioning CBC classroom, Prof Magoha noted that to ease pressure, the ministry is also banking on spaces in primary schools that share a compound with secondary schools.
“The ministry is working with private schools and other stakeholders to ensure that there will be adequate infrastructure to accommodate the 1.2 million students who are set to graduate from Grade Six in December to join Grade Seven in January,” he said
Junior secondary school will comprise of Grade Seven, Eight and Nine. Stiff competition for schools is expected in Grade Nine from both private and public school students
He said the Government has already completed the construction of 11,000 classrooms in phase one and it’s in the process of completing another 3,500 classrooms before elections.
The CS noted that most children will be day scholars just like it is now because we have more day schools than boarding schools adding that already measures have been put in place to ensure Grade Seven text books are supplied on time.
The Education secretary who was accompanied by education stakeholders and Nandi County Commissioner Herman Shambi also ordered management of all schools in the Country to allow students to don religious attires such as Hijabs, turbans and veils to curb religious discrimination
“No child should be removed from school because of wearing a headgear whether it is a Muslim hijab, Christian sister attire or Akorino turban. The directive must be followed to the latter. Let us allow learners to enjoy freedom of worship,” he said
He further urged school heads across the Country to welcome religious guidance in learning institutions as one way of instilling discipline among learners.
“We are calling upon principals to create a prayer place in schools to enable students practice their faith. This will help shape their character and instill disciplined. School where they have Chaplains and Imams, guiding and counseling should be encouraged,” he said.
By Linet Wafula
