Parents may have to dig deeper into their pockets if the recent changes fronted by the Ministry of Education are implemented.
Education Cabinet Secretary George Magoha has pushed for the transition of Grade Six pupils into private schools rather than the initial public schools for their Junior Secondary education in 2023.
Magoha noted that this is after the majority of the private schools complied with Competency Based Curriculum (CBC) directive from the ministry. Parents will thus pay fees as stipulated by the private schools.
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“The issue of the government offering to move along with the private schools was a way of encouraging them to expand inclusivity in the transitioning period of the competency-based curriculum,” he stated.
Besides the high number of classrooms constructed, private schools have also constructed laboratories fully equipped to facilitate learning.
“We had encouraged the primary schools, especially in the urban areas to upgrade into junior high schools and a large number has done so and we are looking to get between 3000 and 4000 classrooms from there,” the CS remarked.
He tasked the government to continue with the construction of other pending classrooms in various schools.
20,000 classrooms are available, it is the duty of the incoming government to ensure the remaining 20,000 classrooms are constructed,” Magoha stated.
Additionally, the CS noted that since this transition is one of a kind and the first in Kenya, the portal may be unavailable in the coming years.
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“Private schools would only come to the portal when they have conformed, since they are businesses, you can’t force them,” he remarked.
The Kenya National Examination Council (KNEC) opened the portal for Grade Six pupils to select the Junior Secondary Schools of their choice on Monday, August 15.
The examination body also set guidelines for the Grade Six exams to be held in November 2022.
Parents have been in limbo over the looming changes to be implemented by the ministry and others hope to be included in the education task force President William Ruto plans to form to review the curriculum.
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Several other stakeholders seek to be included and come up with viable solutions to the CBC dilemma.
