Ministry of Education Rules for Primary Schools to Host Junior Secondary Students
On January 23, schools will reopen for the first term of 2023, during which students will transition to new classrooms and academic levels.
In the transition to the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC), it has become apparent that not all secondary schools will house the first class of junior primary students.
Before primary schools are permitted to host Junior Secondary School (JSS) students in the future, the Ministry of Education has set an extensive list of prerequisites.
To determine which schools would host junior secondary students and which will be merged, the ministry will evaluate student enrollment, facility availability, and security.
Government-set CBC requirements Before accepting Junior Secondary School students, the government, through the Ministry of Education, has mandated that schools meet certain criteria.
The ministry announced that each class must have 45 students, and those that do not meet the quorum will be merged with nearby schools.
In addition, schools must demonstrate that they have the required number of diploma and graduate-level teachers with CBC training.
The task team would also evaluate the number of teachers to non-teaching staff ratio.
In addition, schools must guarantee the availability of sufficient land to host both primary learners and JSS students, including two additional classes for the JSS group.
In addition, they must have the necessary infrastructure to ensure adequate sanitation, clean food handling, and suitable play areas for the learners.
Schools will be evaluated based on their preparation to handle the additional disciplines students will take, particularly those requiring practicals.
The government also required that the institutions must have laboratories for integrated science instruction.
John Maina, director of Lakewood Schools, stated that schools must prepare their budgets to ensure that laboratories are well-equipped.
President William Ruto advocated that schools can work intelligently to ensure appropriate resources in order to accommodate learners comfortably.
Ruto noted that it is conceivable to convert some of the extra classrooms that have already been constructed into laboratories and that schools that share a campus with a seventh-grade secondary school can conduct laboratory work.
Some schools have prepared for the transition from primary school to junior secondary school by implementing a new school uniform, which they claim is a morale booster.
The direction of the CBC will be determined by the report of the Ruto task force.
Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua stated that the Kenya Kwanza Alliance government will not eliminate the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC), but will review it to improve it.
Gachagua noted that broad concern has been expressed about the implementation of the new curriculum and that the issues identified must be addressed to ensure a seamless academic system.
The second-in-command, addressing former Education Cabinet secretary George Magoha, asserted that the majority of education stakeholders had raised reservations about the new curriculum.
Ministry of Education Rules for Primary Schools to Host Junior Secondary Students
