Govt to Construct 8,000 JSS Laboratories
The Ministry of Education is set to construct 8,000 new laboratories in Junior Secondary Schools across Kenya in a bid to ensure the successful implementation of the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC).
The initiative is expected to cost the government Sh 10 billion and cover 40% of the required facilities. Education Cabinet Secretary Ezekiel Machogu announced the development during his visit to Junior Secondary Schools in Kisii Central.
He affirmed that the government is committed to providing proper funding for every child, ruling out any possibilities of reverting to the 8-4-4 system.
Machogu added that each laboratory would cost at least Sh 1.2 million, and urged Members of Parliament to prioritize and fund more laboratory construction through the Constituency Development Fund.
He also revealed that the government had held discussions with the World Bank on funding, and that the ministry had enough classrooms, with renovations required to achieve the target for Junior Secondary.
The Education Cabinet Secretary announced that the government would disburse money for Junior Secondary Schools, with each learner receiving Sh 15,040.
Senior Secondary School students will continue to receive Sh 22,244, while primary school students will receive Sh 1,420 each.
Despite achieving a 96% transition to Junior Secondary, Machogu revealed that 15,640 students are yet to report to Junior Secondary School.
Machogu stated that the CBC is the best system to impact competency skills on children and emphasized that the government will not revert to the 8-4-4 system.
The Presidential Working Party on Education Reforms reported that 84% of Kenyans want the CBC implemented.
Machogu also noted that most Kenyans and parents prefer Junior Secondary domiciled in primary schools, citing the level of preparedness and training that teachers have undergone in CBC for over seven years.
The Education Cabinet Secretary stated that public schools have facilities that are better than some private schools, as evidenced by the better performance of pupils from public schools in the 2022 Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) examinations.
He concluded by affirming that the government has achieved a record 91% transition to Secondary School.
Govt to Construct 8,000 JSS Laboratories