Education Cabinet Secretary George Magoha has announced strides made by his Ministry in equipping primary schools for hosting junior secondary.
Speaking on Wednesday, July 20, in Kiambu County, the CS noted that over 27 primary schools in Nairobi had already passed the test.
He further noted that the number is expected to rise by Friday, July 22, when he will publicise the schools in an official statement.
Magoha also revealed that the Ministry was on the right track to achieving the 10,000 classrooms to accommodate junior secondary students as promised by President Uhuru Kenyatta.
"Our target is to ensure that the 10,000 classrooms promised by the President are ready. So far we have commissioned about 50. I think next week we shall commission a large number.
"Despite a lot of noise from the busybodies, we are actually very focused on our children. In Nairobi, for example, we have registered about 27 primary schools that have satisfied our situation to convert to junior secondary schools," he stated.
The announcement marks a major milestone since the CS, at the beginning of July, directed private schools to construct new classrooms to accommodate learners transitioning from Grade 6 to Junior Secondary School in January 2023.
At the time, he assured Kenyans that the Ministry of Education was prepared to enrol all the 1.28 million Grade 6 students in the junior secondary with minimal or no challenges.
“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.
"The private primary schools can create stand-alone junior high schools. It’s a win-win situation,” the CS explained.
Magoha, in his Kiambu County tour, also maintained that since he assumed office, he ensured there was value for money brushing off claims that his team gobbled Ksh10 million during school inspection trips.
An earlier report by Auditor-General Nancy Gathungu further indicated that some ghost schools, reportedly set up by staff members at the ministry, had syphoned northwards of Ksh85 billion.
She reported that there were questionable school bank accounts and shoddy bookkeeping.
"One other good thing to say is that most of the things are measurable and they shall remain even when we are gone," Magoha, howvwer, refuted.
