CBC Demands Headache For Parents, MP Criticizes JSS Confusion
Martha Wangari, the Member of Parliament for Gilgil, has criticized the Ministry of Education for the confusion among students who are joining Junior Secondary Schools (JSS).
The MP has promised to raise this issue in Parliament when they resume sessions next week. She noted that the Competency Based Curriculum (CBC) is causing a major headache for parents.
According to Wangari, the directive requiring students joining JSS to acquire new uniforms and learning materials is unattainable for many families due to the harsh economic times and the recent drought.
Many parents cannot afford these demands, which she considers illegal and unfair. The MP warned that the Grade Seven students will face mental challenges in the coming days due to this crisis.
“The schools are demanding new uniforms, desks and books and many of the parents cannot afford these illegal and unfair demands,” she said.
She noted that the students have already sat for a national exam, selected schools of their choice, and are now studying 14 subjects, which she considers too much.
The MP also noted that the recently released funds by the Treasury are not enough to address the issue of bursary, as demand is rising by the day.
Her office will continue to support the poor families despite the emerging challenges, as the drought and the Covid-19 pandemic have affected many families.
One of the parents, Francis Ng’ang’a, stated that it is expensive for many parents to buy uniforms and learning materials for students joining Grade Seven.
“Many of us are peasant farmers who did not harvest anything due to the drought and the things needed in Grade Seven are beyond us,” he said.
Wangari was speaking in Gilgil town after handing over bursaries to bright students from needy families in the constituency. One of the beneficiaries, Lucy Nyambura, who scored 336 marks in the KCPE, was all smiles after receiving a four-year scholarship through the MP.
She said that this was a dream come true for her as she did not have any hope of joining secondary school due to a lack of fees. Lucy promised to deliver good performance in her studies.
In conclusion, the MP has pointed out the challenges faced by students and parents due to the Competency Based Curriculum (CBC) and has promised to raise the issue in Parliament next week.
CBC Demands Headache For Parents, MP Criticizes JSS Confusion
