Do Not Pay for JSS Classroom Construction, Machogu tells Parents
Education Cabinet Secretary Ezekiel Machogu has announced that parents will not be obligated to contribute to the construction of Junior Secondary School (JSS) classrooms. He conveyed concerns about certain schools imposing additional fees on parents, claiming it is for the development of JSS classrooms.
Machogu emphasized that schools should refrain from requesting parents to fund the construction of new classrooms for the current Grade 8 candidates.
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Instead, Machogu instructed Grade 8 learners to utilize the available classrooms left vacant by the last Std 8 cohort who completed the Kenya Certificate of Primary Education Examination in 2023.
The Education Cabinet Secretary disclosed ongoing plans for the construction of JSS classrooms, outlining a government initiative to allocate Sh12.8 billion for building 15,015 classrooms over the next year. This significant investment aims to accommodate the growing number of JSS learners.
Highlighting financial matters, Machogu assured school heads that the recently released Sh7.6 billion for Junior Secondary School learners had already been deposited into school accounts. In light of this, he explicitly stated that schools are not permitted to levy additional charges on parents.
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Field officers from the Ministry of Education were urged by Machogu to be vigilant in ensuring strict compliance with joining instructions for Junior Secondary Schools and Form 1 in various regions. He reiterated that no extra financial burdens should be imposed on parents.
Machogu expressed dissatisfaction with reports received after the reopening of basic education learning institutions on January 8.
He highlighted instances of some institutions charging parents extra levies under the pretext of expanding infrastructure for Grade 8 learners in 2024. Additionally, he pointed out that certain schools were demanding new uniforms for Grade 7 learners.
To facilitate a smooth transition to Junior Secondary Schools, Machogu issued a directive allowing all 1,282,574 candidates who completed the 2023 Kenya Primary Schools Education Assessment to join Grade 7 in the Junior Secondary Schools affiliated with their respective primary schools where they attended Grades 1-6.
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Do Not Pay for JSS Classroom Construction, Machogu tells Parents
