Kwale County is set for the construction of the first phase of 129 additional classrooms to accommodate learners in the Competency Based Curriculum (CBC).
Area County Commissioner, Mr Gideon Oyagi, who chaired a stakeholders meeting directed Deputy County Commissioners (DCCs) in the four sub counties of Matuga, Msambweni, Lunga Lunga and Kinango to supervise the projects and ensure prudent use of resources.
Oyagi said sub county CBC infrastructure technical committees under the leadership of the DCCs have been activated to ensure smooth implementation of the school projects that would be executed in two phases.
The administrator asked the DCCs and the Sub County Directors of Education to work closely in the supervision of the projects saying the classrooms should be ready to accommodate learners by 2023.
He said the National Government has dispatched a team of public work officers to supervise the school CBC projects to ensure prudent use of public resources.
He said the additional classrooms will go a long way in addressing the shortfall of space to accommodate those transiting into the new junior secondary school.
Kenneth Nganga, a senior public works quantity surveyor is leading a team of architects, structural, mechanical and electrical engineers who will oversee the school project works in Mombasa, Kwale and Kilifi counties.
County Director of Education, Martin Cheruiyot, said the county is on course to progressively expand the capacity of all public secondary schools.
Cheruiyot said the CBC expansion project will support the 100 per cent transition policy and accommodate a surge in learners in 2023 when the CBC grade six candidates of 2022 will transition to junior secondary schools.
He said the cost of the school projects under the CBC infrastructure development programme has been capped at an average cost of Sh800, 000 per classroom across the board.
“It’s take it or leave it situation for the constructors but we encourage those with the financial ability to undertake the projects to bid,” he said adding that contractors would be paid after handing over the keys to the classrooms.
He instructed the implementation committees at the sub county levels to identify contractors that are competent and have adequate manpower and skills to do the work in a professional manner.
He said the CBC infrastructure development is being implemented under the economic stimulus package and stressed that local contractors within the vicinity of the secondary schools would be contracted for the works.
“Local contractors who live around the schools would be given priority in the construction works so as to tap local skills and enhance economic opportunities,” said Cheruiyot.
The Competency-Based Curriculum was introduced in 2017 and marks a paradigm shift from the old 8-4-4 education system.
On October 20 this year, the President directed the National Treasury to give the Ministry of Education Sh8 billion for the construction of 10,000 classrooms in secondary schools across the country.
By Hussein Abdullahi
