Junior Secondary Focus Shifts To Private Schools.
The demand for spaces caused by pioneer Grade Six learners under CBC and Standard Eight, who will join Junior Secondary and Form One, respectively, is putting pressure on the government as the implementation date approaches.
With all of the pressure, the focus now shifts to private schools, which are attempting to address the classroom deficit in public secondary schools in order to allow for a smooth transition of CBC Grade 6 learners to Junior Secondary in January 2023.
Magoha has repeatedly pleaded with private schools to invest in Junior Secondary to fill the classroom deficit.
“We are encouraging the private schools to construct stand-alone junior high schools. We are currently inspecting the facilities to ensure that they meet the required specifications,” he said.
However, Wilson Sossion, a nominated MP and former Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) Secretary-General stated that the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC) has created an opportunity for investors interested in the education sector to profit handsomely through private schools.
Sossion noted that public schools are under-resourced and under-prepared, whereas private schools are forging ahead with implementation despite the storm in public education.
“The way CBC was introduced in this country was to destroy the existence of public schools because they will never implement it. We did not prepare and it was just imposed. Whoever who imposed it was very deliberate to kill public schools,” Sossion said.
Kenya Private Schools Association chairman Charles Ochome stated that private schools supplement the government’s efforts to meet its obligations.
‘‘Over the past decade, the private sector has supplemented the government’s effort in its mandate of delivering quality education. Private schools are only being given an opportunity to implement CBC, not for business,’’ said Ochome.
Ochome stated that by reaching out to the private sector to build CBC classrooms, the government will see cost savings, improved quality, increased participation, and long-term CBC implementation.
According to Ochome, the government is struggling, as evidenced by delays in the delivery of capitation to public schools adding that private schools will try to fill in the gaps where the public cannot.
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The Secretary-General of KUPPET, Akello Misori, has asked the government to develop a proper framework to avoid subjecting education to profit-making ventures and undue competition.
“Education is good for the public. The Minister of Education should provide incentives for developers of private schools to build capacity and ensure standards are maintained across all schools,” said Misori.
School administrators have expressed concern about funding infrastructure and the cost of hiring personnel to handle junior secondary school students.
However, CS Magoha insists that the government’s obligation is limited to public schools.
“If a Kenyan chooses to take a child to a private school, with all humility, let that Kenyan pay for it. It is a matter of choice,” Magoha said.
According to Ochome, the Private Schools Association is looking into ways to fund the implementation of infrastructure in their schools.
Junior Secondary Focus Shifts To Private Schools
