The Ministry of Education has moved to allay fears among key education stakeholders, assuring them that the government is fully prepared for Grade 9 transition as the school reopening dates approach.
This follows concerns raised by key stakeholders and parents about the government's readiness for the transition, as there appears to be significant shortages of classrooms in many schools across the country.
Concerns continue to simmer, especially with the few remaining days until the school reopening, as many schools lack the facilities to accommodate the pioneer learners of the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC).
However, Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Migos has assured parents that the construction process is underway and will be completed on time.
''The transition will take place as planned but whatever challenges that will come we will be prepared to handle them,'' Migos revealed
''The infrastructure which is the main concern...we will be able to give you the figures and to give you an indication on when we are likely be able to complete the construction,'' he added.
Additionally, Migos revealed that the Ministry has procured a total of 9.9 million textbooks for learners and distributed over 5.4 million so far.
Basic Education Principal Secretary Belio Kipsang asserted that the construction of 11,000 classrooms is ongoing and preparation for grade 9 transition is well underway.
He further added that the government has set aside Ksh11 billion for the construction of the classrooms with each expected to cost Ksh1 million.
Kipsang directed school heads to use the funds strictly for the construction of classrooms, with the remaining work in phase one 98 per cent complete. This phase involved the construction of 3,500 units.
According to the PS, phase two of the 7,500 classrooms is already 70 per cent complete but there are concerns that teachers are also not ready for the CBC.
''As we head to January, I want to assure you that we will be ready for our children who will be transitioning to grade 9,'' Kipsang announced.
''We shall have taken our teachers for retooling, we shall have built the classes and we have already employed an additional 20,000 of them to help us,'' the PS added.
Meanwhile, in a press statement, the Ministry revealed that it had finalised the preparation for the sending of Ksh15.3 billion to junior secondary schools ahead of the next academic year.
