50 days to Grade 9 rollout: Are schools ready for CBC transition?

Construction of Grade 9 classrooms at Roots Academy in Nakuru on November 12, 2024. The school deputy head teacher Cleophas Mutai said the additional 12 classrooms will accomodate 400 students next term.  [Kipsang Joseph, Standard]

With just 50 days remaining before the pioneer class of the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC) transitions to Grade 9, concerns persist over the readiness of schools to implement the programme effectively.

Catholic bishops have become the latest group to raise alarm, describing the rollout as “crumbling” due to a lack of clarity, inadequate infrastructure, insufficient resources, and delayed teacher recruitment.

However, Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba defended the government’s preparedness during a press briefing on Thursday, asserting that the government has laid the groundwork for the Grade 9 rollout.

“The CBC is not crumbling. It is growing, evolving, and delivering on its promise to transform Kenya’s education system,” Ogamba stated.

Schools are set to reopen on January 6 for the 2025 academic year, marking the official transition to Grade 9.

In preparation, Ogamba said the distribution of textbooks for Grade 9 began on October 23.

“The government has invested heavily in the CBC, and it is disingenuous to dismiss its success. This curriculum is not just about academics; it’s about nurturing learners’ potential, building ethical citizens, and equipping them with skills for innovation and industry,” he said.

Ogamba also revealed that the government allocated Sh17.6 billion for constructing 16,000 classrooms required for Grade 9.

“The construction is at an advanced stage and will be completed by December 2024. This decentralized approach not only supports education but also creates economic opportunities at the grassroots level,” he added.

Additionally, Ogamba announced that the government will recruit 20,000 intern teachers in January 2025.

Ogamba appealed to stakeholders to support education reforms rather than undermine them. “We urge our Catholic clergy to engage constructively. Criticising a system that serves over 11 million learners does a disservice to the country’s progress,” he said.

In October, the government projected it would complete 11,000 classrooms by December to support the transition of learners from Grade 8 to Grade 9 in January.

President William Ruto on Tuesday indicated that the government is in the final stages of constructing Junior Secondary School (JSS) classrooms.

“As we move to Grade 9, we have not only finalised the process of building an extra 11,000 classrooms, but I have also asked our Members of Parliament to build an extra 6,000 classroom), so that next year we are ready to ensure every child transitions to Grade 9,” the President said.

The Standard has established that the government has so far completed the construction of the first set of 3,500 classrooms.

Education Principal Secretary Belio Kipsang noted that the Treasury recently released funds to accelerate the construction.

“Funding for 7,500 classrooms was released two weeks ago, and progress is now between 22 per cent and 68 per cent complete. I am confident that by December, we will have all 11,000 classrooms in place,” Kipsang said.

A nationwide assessment conducted by the Ministry of Education revealed a shortfall of over 16,000 classrooms. In a presentation before the National Assembly Committee on Education, Ogamba said the classrooms will be constructed in two phases. The first phase would see 3,500 classrooms built at a cost of Sh3.5 billion, while the second phase would involve constructing 7,500 classrooms at a cost of Sh7.5 billion. Additionally, an extra 6,000 classrooms would be constructed by MPs under the National Government Constituency Development Fund (NG-CDF).