Education Cabinet Secretary (CS) Julius Ogamba has announced that 90% of the classrooms required for the first cohort of Grade 9 learners have already been completed across the country. Out of the 16,000 classrooms needed for Junior Secondary School (JSS) under the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC), 14,500 classrooms have been constructed through the combined efforts of the Ministry of Education and the National Government Constituency Development Fund (NG-CDF).
Speaking in Kajiado North during a tour to assess the state of readiness for the new school term, Ogamba assured the public that the remaining classrooms will be completed within the next month. This proactive approach is part of the ministry’s commitment to ensuring a seamless transition for Grade 9 students.
“The multi-agency approach we are employing is crucial to guarantee that no learner is left behind,” Ogamba said. He emphasized that any challenges faced in the process will be promptly addressed, including the possibility of merging lower-grade classes temporarily to accommodate Grade 9 students.
Additionally, Ogamba highlighted that 9.9 million textbooks, covering all subjects, have been distributed to ensure that each Grade 9 student receives a book for every subject. Distribution is ongoing, especially in areas where it has faced delays.
In terms of teaching staff, nearly 76,000 teachers have been deployed to teach the JSS students. Where there is a shortage, primary school teachers with the required competencies will be deployed to handle the JSS classes, ensuring that students do not experience interruptions in their learning.
Ogamba also reaffirmed the Ministry’s commitment to a 100% transition, as per the constitutional mandate in Article 53, ensuring that all learners progress from Grade 6 to Grade 7. He urged teachers to be patient with students who may not yet have uniforms or other materials due to financial constraints, emphasizing that they should be given time to acquire the necessary items.
During his visit, Ogamba was accompanied by Kajiado North Member of Parliament Onesmus Ngogoyo, who raised concerns regarding the shortage of desks and lockers. He urged the Ministry to include these items in the supplementary budget to ensure that students have adequate learning resources.
The Ministry of Education allocated Ksh 11 billion for the construction of 11,000 classrooms, while the National Treasury released Ksh 7.8 billion to the NG-CDF for an additional 5,000 classrooms, marking a major milestone in Kenya’s educational infrastructure development.
