Basic Education Principal Secretary Dr. Belio Kipsang on Tuesday, December 6, announced plans to abolish the boarding system from Grade 1 to Grade 9.
PS Belio noted the plan to do away with boarding schools in primary school are
at advanced stage and will kick in early 2023.
It's estimated that if implemented, the proposal will force at least 28 per cent of learners in boarding primary schools to transition to day schools.
“We must create a way in which we can be with our children and the only way is through day schooling,” Dr. Kipsang noted.
Dr. Kipsang revealed that Kenya Kwanza government had made the decision in order to help children grow under proper care of their parents.
The Education PS spoke during the official opening of the Kenya Primary School Heads Association Conference in Mombasa.
He also underscored the need for the government to do away with the categorization of secondary schools as part of the reforms that will help streamline the Competency Based Curriculum (CBC).
Presidential Working Party on Education Reform recommended that Junior Secondary Schools (JSS) be domiciled in the existing primary schools.
The task force also asked the government to ensure that Grade 6 Kenya Primary School Education Assessment (KPSEA) is not be used for placement in JSS.
According to Prof Raphael Munavu-led team, the test should be used as an assessment to monitor learning progress while at the same time providing feedback to education stakeholders on areas that require intervention.
Primary head teachers have since been asked to ascertain the capacity of pupils they can accommodate in their respective schools.
At the same time, the government is currently building extra classrooms and laboratories in every primary school.
The construction of laboratories has given priority in the next one year, PS Belio confirmed.
He also asked Kenyans to exercise patience even as government continues with development of infrastructure.
The government has also doubled the beneficiaries of school feeding programs as well increase the allocation of the Free Primary Education National Fund as it looks for money to cater for non-tuition costs for learners.
