Senate Deputy Speaker Kathuri Murungi on Tuesday, January 17, attributed the uncertainty rocking the government’s rollout of the competency-based curriculum (CBC) to the last-minute decision to have junior secondary schools domiciled in existing primary schools.
According to him, the previous administration had envisaged and planned for a transition of grade six graduates to secondary schools.
He noted that plans to upgrade the systems in secondary schools had already commenced in anticipation of the Grade 7 learners in 2023.
“The government is facing a big challenge because, in the last financial year, it injected money for classrooms and other facilities in the secondary schools but the plan changed to junior schools to be hosted in primary schools” he stated during an interview with Citizen TV.
Whilst maintaining that the CBC is relevant to the requirements of Kenyans, the Meru Senator implored the national government to commit more funds to primary schools in aid of the preparations.
Murungi’s statements came at a time when the fate of learners, in a section of public schools, lies in uncertainty after survey reports indicated that a chunk of public primary schools was not prepared for the transition.
The government of retired President Uhuru Kenyatta had made steps in the actualisation of CBC with the erection of facilities and requisite infrastructure in secondary schools.
Former Education Cabinet Secretary George Magoha oversaw the construction of junior secondary school classrooms and personally inspected their progress.
However, the dawn of President Ruto's regime altered the trajectory of the preparations made after the task force on education advised that grades seven and eight would be domiciled in the existing primary schools instead.
During a meeting with members of parliament in December 2022, the President and his deputy Rigathi Gachagua asked the legislators to help in erecting requisite facilities in their respective constituencies.
Education CS Ezekiel Machogu on Monday, January 16, maintained that the plan to roll out junior secondary schools was on course and scheduled for January 30.
Grade six graduates are expected to proceed to their respective junior secondary schools once the placement process is complete.
