The Education Cabinet Secretary (CS), Julius Migos Ogamba, has reassured the nation that the transition to Junior Secondary School (JSS) will proceed as planned, despite earlier concerns. Speaking in Kajiado County on Monday, the CS provided updates on the progress made in ensuring that the country is fully prepared for the shift.
Ogamba revealed that significant strides have been made in the construction of classrooms, a key element for the smooth transition. Of the 16,000 planned classrooms, 14,500 have already been completed, meaning the construction process is over 90% finished. The CS expressed confidence that the remaining classrooms will be completed within the next four to five weeks, ensuring that there will be enough space for students once the transition is fully underway.
In addition to the physical infrastructure, Ogamba confirmed that the necessary textbooks have already been dispatched to schools across the country. A total of 9.9 million textbooks, covering all learning areas, have been distributed, ensuring that students will have access to the required resources from day one. The books are being provided at a 1:1 ratio, meaning every student will receive a personal copy of the textbooks, which is a significant step in supporting quality learning.
One of the concerns raised earlier was the availability of qualified teachers for the Junior Secondary Schools. The CS addressed this issue by confirming that nearly 76,000 teachers have been made available for JSS. In areas where there is a shortage of teachers, primary school teachers are being promoted to teach JSS classes based on their competencies, ensuring that the teaching workforce meets the demands of the new system.
Ogamba’s remarks reflect the government’s commitment to ensuring that the transition to Junior Secondary School is successful and that students have the necessary infrastructure, resources, and qualified personnel to thrive in the new system. With the ongoing efforts, the Ministry of Education is optimistic that the planned transition will unfold smoothly.
