Education Cabinet Secretary Prof. George Magoha has directed private schools to construct new classrooms that will accommodate learners transitioning from Grade 6 to Junior Secondary School in January 2023.
Speaking on Tuesday, July 5 during the annual Private School meeting held in Mombasa, the CS explained why the Ministry of Education had changed its tune on the much-anticipated transition.
“We have said that Junior Secondary Schools shall be hosted in secondary schools, but we have walked back because of the circumstances in the private sector," stated Prof Magoha.
According to the CS, the approach is a win-win situation even as the clock ticks closer to January.
"We are telling the private primary schools that you can create stand-alone junior high schools. It’s a win-win situation,” he added.
CS Magoha assured Kenyans that the Ministry of Education is prepared to ensure that all the 1.28 million students in Grade 6 successfully transition to the next level with minimal or no challenges.
“I know you are still worried about the engagement process in terms of how the children are going to be placed. It is a work in progress and I will come out and tell you within the next three weeks.
There shall not be any discrimination against any child, we shall still have affirmative action. But we are ready for a transition,” explained Magoha.
He also put on notice ministry officials taking bribes to register private school owners, asking school administrations to make the necessary adjustments to comply with CBC requirements.
Magoha directed the officials to also inspect private schools to ensure they are at par with the required standards.
“On the small headache of the laboratory, we require the basic minimum. Build a laboratory that will belong to you instead of borrowing. You can build a functional laboratory with Sh1.5 million,” the CS added.
An administrator from Mary Joy Academy in Mombasa Mary Waigi revealed that they are prepared for the transition and have more than enough room to accommodate more students.
“We are prepared and we have prepared the students. Our doors are open to accommodate more students from other schools. We have classes with 3-4 streams”, said Waigi.
CS Magoha assured the private sector of the government support in the Junior Secondary Schools rollout. He noted that there is capitation only for students in public schools and urged the private school sector to plan accordingly.
“There are people who can afford to pay. We will facilitate you where we can,” the CS assured.
The Competence-Based Curriculum (CBC) was launched in 2017 and has faced numerous hurdles including threats by the Kenya Kwanza team to review the syllabus.
There has also been confusion on how Grade 6 will transition in January next year, including whether they will sit a national exam for grading.
The last group of the 8-4-4 curriculum classes 7 and 8 classes will be unoccupied and suggestions have been made to use them instead of diverting resources to constructing new classes.
Public secondary schools are also grappling with congestion following President Uhuru Kenyatta's enforcement of the 100 percent transition.
