The Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) has urged the Ministry of Education to release capitation to schools as students return to class next week, starting Monday, April 28.
Speaking on Sunday, April 27, the union's Secretary General, Hesbon Otieno, stated that this would facilitate the transition expected in the second term.
According to the SG, the second term is when Grade 9 students would choose their senior secondary school pathways, and thus, efficient funding was critical for a seamless transition.
He thus called on the government to release the capitation and balances from the first term before the school reopening, and not in the middle of the term or towards the end.
"It is important that the ministry releases the 30 per cent that is expected to be released in the second term. Let them release it in good time before the schools open, and if there are any balances that were not released for the first term, let them be released so that the schools start on a good slate because of what we have in terms of transition," he stated.
"I know now that students are going to start selecting the pathways that they are going to handle in grade 10. Schools need to be empowered to ensure that this work is done in a timely manner so that there are no delays and frustrations from the heads of institutions and the management of the schools."
Current Grade 9 students will be the first senior secondary students under the Competency-Based Education (CBE) programme, and they will specialise in different pathways, starting from Grade 10.
According to the new curriculum, three pathways are available—Arts and Sports, Social Sciences and Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM)—with each student expected to choose at most two.
The pathways will be determined both by merit and the student's preferences in order to start them on their preferred career path.
However, this has not been without hiccups, as the ministry recently received a lot of criticism after announcing that only STEM students will need to study mathematics, a previously compulsory subject in the 8-4-4 system.
The uproar culminated in the ministry reverting the directive and stating that some sort of mathematics would be introduced to students of the other two pathways as well.
On Friday, April 15, the Competency-Based Curriculum was changed to Competency-Based Education (CBE) in a move meant to simplify learning pathways and make education more affordable, accessible, and practical for students.
