Congested classrooms and lack of adequate learning materials received Grade 9 learners as they reported back to school. This is despite government assurances that all is ready. Learners were forced to share classrooms while others will have to use makeshift structures as they wait for the construction of classrooms. While most schools have received textbooks, a few others began the school term without the required learning resources.
However, Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba downplayed the concerns, saying that the government is on track with rolling out the last class of the junior school.
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On Monday, the CS noted that 14,500 of the 16,000 planned classrooms have already been constructed to ensure a seamless transition.
“We are over 90% complete with the construction of classrooms. We are going around to confirm that the remaining classrooms are being built. We will check areas where classrooms have not yet been done to find out what arrangements have been made to ensure a smooth transition,” he told the media.
“We intend to ensure that within the next four to five weeks, all the classrooms that are required would have been completed,” added the CS.
Also read: Education CS Julius Migosi Ogamba says transition to Grade 9 will be smooth
To address the lack of enough classrooms, CS Ogamba appealed to heads of institutions in schools where classrooms have not been completed to construct temporary structures to accommodate learners.
The CS also directed heads of schools to merge streams where possible to create space for the new learners in Grade 9 who are transiting to Junior secondary schools.
Admitting some Grade 9 learners don’t have classrooms even as they reported back to school, Basic Education Principal Secretary Belio Kipsang said that the pupils can learn in turns to ensure that learning does not stop.
“We are going to have short-term mitigating solutions to give us more time to finalise on any school where we are putting up a classroom. Some of the mitigating factors is consolidating on classrooms,” Kipsang said.
The PS noted that congestion will be expected within the duration, but will persist for a short while as the Ministry of Education races against time to ensure that Grade 9s are settled by the end of January.
“Within this short time of the next 30 days, we want to make sure that we don’t disrupt learning. In some situations, where congestion will not allow, we can have a multi-shift within the time. If there is a class that is having outdoor activities, then within that time there can be another group that is optimizing those classrooms,” PS Kipsang told schools.
More teachers required
Lack of classrooms and textbooks are not the only problems facing schools as there is a serious shortage of teachers to handle the leaners.Ogamba saus the Government through the Teachers Service Commission, TSC, had availed about 76,000 teachers while more will be deployed from Primary schools.
“We have also availed nearly 76,000 teachers for JSS. In areas where there is a shortage, primary teachers are being promoted to teach JSS classes based on their competencies,”
Ogamba said.
Continue reading: 80,000 Teachers employed, deployed to teach at Junior Schools countrywide.
