The Ministry of Education will from this week inspect private schools to establish whether they have adequate infrastructure for junior secondary ahead of the second phase of the Competence-Based Curriculum (CBC) rollout.
The government is keen on ensuring there are enough classrooms and accommodation spaces for learners who will be transition from Grade Six to junior secondary. The first batch of Grade Six candidates will be joining secondary next January.
‘‘We will inspect private schools to see if they are prepared for the rollout of junior secondary. They have assured us of 5,000 classrooms before the end of the year and as of now, they have already put up 1,200 classrooms,’’ said Education Cabinet Secretary George Magoha.
The CS spoke yesterday at Mwiki Secondary School in Nairobi where he had gone to inaugurate CBC classrooms. He said the government will ensure enough infrastructure is in place before January next year.
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The government expects private schools to provide 5,000 classrooms. The ministry has so far constructed 10,000. According to Prof Magoha, 2.5 million learners next year will be transiting from Grade Six to Junior Secondary.
“From tomorrow or the next day, we will start with Moi Education Centre in Kibra constituency then proceed to Runda to ascertain the level of preparedness,’’ said Prof Magoha.
The move comes three weeks after Unified Alternative Provision of Basic Education and Training (APBET) Schools Association of Kenya accused the government of side-lining them in decision making on junior secondary.
Chairman Moses Wokono said despite their coming in as an alternative provider of basic education and training, APBET schools were being kept in the dark.
“We call upon the ministry to include us in the new registration guidelines for schools. The junior secondary debate is on. We need to give our views as we seek to compliment the government in the provision of education in areas where public schools are not available or affordable,’’ said Wokono.
The CS, at the same time, said the selection and placement process in which leaners are allowed to revise their schools of choice, will be replaced.
“The best method of applying to the junior secondary is being worked on and will ensure children the best way out to select preferred schools,” he said.
mkihaki@standardmedia.co.ke
