The government will construct 16,000 classrooms across the country in readiness for the transition of learners to grade nine next year.
The Principal Secretary for Basic Education, Dr. Belio Kipsang, said the government also has plans to construct 10 additional classrooms to cater for the learners who will transition to grade nine next year.
“We welcome the World Bank to support and partner with the government to build even more classrooms in this school,” said the PS.
Dr. Kipsang made the remarks in a speech read on his behalf by the Director of Projects Coordination and Delivery for Projects, Mr. Elijah Mungai, at Olympics Primary School in Kibra Sub County, Nairobi.
Speaking at the event, the Vice President for Human Development at the World Bank, Mamta Murthi, who had visited the school, praised Kenya for the strong educational outcomes that schooling stimulates in children.
“The schooling system in Kenya is ably imparting to learners the knowledge, skills, attitudes, and values that students ought to acquire,” Murthi said.
She at the same time commended the country for performing well in the enrolment rate of children in schools, noting that education was a critical factor in determining the future of a country.
The Deputy County Commissioner, Mr. Odidi Otieno, said the government worked through its structures to ensure 100 per cent transition of learners from primary to secondary education.
The Headteacher of Olympics Primary School, Mr. Cyrus Okumu, said that the school had developed a friendly learning environment and excellent instruction for learners in the school.
He attributed the huge learner population of 5108 to supportive teaching and non-teaching staff that made learning enjoyable.
“Children keep coming back to school because of the good learning experiences good pedagogy creates,” Mr. Okumu said.
Present at the event were the Manager, Practice, Education at World Bank Group, Meskerem Mulatu, Senior Educational Specialist at the World Bank office in Nairobi, Ms. Ruth Charo, and the Nairobi Regional Director for Education, Margaret Lesuuda, among other senior officials in education.
By Bernadette Khaduli
