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As learners, schools, and guardians prepare for the start of the first term, the government has assured the public of adequate infrastructure, learning materials, and staffing to support a smooth reopening.

The Principal Secretary (PS) for the State Department for Basic Education, Dr. Belio Kipsang, stated that the government has been working diligently to meet the demands of the education calendar and ensure a seamless transition to Junior Secondary Schools (JSS) under the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC).

Classroom Construction and Transition to Junior Secondary

To accommodate the growing number of students transitioning to JSS, the government has constructed 13,200 classrooms out of a targeted 16,000.

• 10,100 classrooms were built by the Ministry of Education.
• An additional 3,100 classrooms were constructed through the National Government-Constituency Development Fund (NG-CDF).

Dr. Kipsang noted that 2,800 classrooms are still under construction and that some schools with lower enrollment would also receive new classrooms.

“We have been preparing ourselves for this transition to ensure no student is left behind,” stated Dr. Kipsang during a meeting with County Directors of Education in Mombasa.

The PS highlighted that 93% of Kenyans supported the integration of JSS into primary schools, as recommended by the Presidential Working Party on Education Reform.

Textbook Distribution and Learning Materials

Dr. Kipsang confirmed that the government has printed and distributed 9.9 million textbooks for Grade Nine students.

• 85% of schools have already received the books, with distribution ongoing for the remaining schools.
• The government has supplied books consistently since the launch of the CBC in 2017, covering all grades up to Grade Nine.

“I want to confirm that all Grade Nine books have been printed and are being distributed to schools nationwide,” he affirmed.

Teacher Recruitment and Deployment

To address staffing needs, the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) has:

• Recruited 20,000 intern teachers.
• Converted 46,000 interns to Permanent and Pensionable terms.

Currently, there are over 80,000 teachers in Junior Schools, although the total requirement is estimated at 140,000 teachers.

“We are committed to progressively filling the gap to ensure every learner has access to quality education,” stated Dr. Kipsang.

A Bright Future for Learners

Dr. Kipsang assured the public that schools are well-prepared to accommodate learners, with adequate resources in place to support uninterrupted learning. He reiterated the government’s dedication to addressing any remaining challenges to ensure the successful implementation of the CBC and smooth operations in schools.

This commitment underscores the government’s long-term vision of transforming the education sector to better equip learners for the future.