Ministry Orders Expansion Of Lab Services In Schools To Accommodate All Subjects.All schools must have laboratories that can accommodate all subjects, not just Physics, Biology, and Chemistry.The Ministry of Education stated in new guidelines that the new curriculum and increased learner intake will necessitate larger laboratories.Education CS George Magoha, Early Learning and Basic Education PS Julius Jwan, and Director of Quality Assurance Mary Gaturu all signed the regulations.“Currently, existing laboratories were designed for use by 40 students. However, class sizes are currently well above this as a result of FPE and FDSE,” the report reads.The standards are intended to be adopted by all primary and secondary schools, teacher training colleges, and special needs centers.To accommodate changing learning patterns and methods, the ministry has directed that lab services be expanded.“To include additional overarching learning areas beginning from the local environment as well as enhancing investigative pedagogy,” the report reads.Schools must also have one laboratory large enough to serve a single to double streamed learning institution.However, if streams are added, a school will be required to increase the number of labs to match the ratio of one laboratory (45 students) to two streams.When constructing the labs, each should have two main entrance steel doors and one room with a steel exit door.“Windows to have cross ventilation on both the longer, opposite walls, be large enough to permit good natural light, ventilation and have appropriate burglarproofing and lock systems,” the report reads.Concrete, terrazzo, or ceramic tiles should be used to build platforms with practical surfaces.This includes areas that may come into contact with water, the floor, benches, and finishes that must be resistant to the impacts of falling objects and chemical corrosion.Furthermore, the labs must be ICT compliant and have a design that can be converted into a twin lab.This means that the lab will serve a single and dual-stream institution that offers five subjects that require practicals.“2.4 square metres per student plus additional 1.0sqm (emergency corner shower point) plus 32 sqm (Store, Preparation Areas, &Teachers Office),” the report reads.Wall-mounted side benches with lab sinks, gas points, shelves, and lockable cabinets will be permanent fixtures in the labs.Others include fixed worktops along walls, permanent wall-mounted shelves, and lockable cabinets with see-through glazed shutters in all rooms.Tables, a demonstration bench placed at the teacher’s side when in use, a gas point, and lockable cabinets will be movable objects.All windows and doors should be opened outwards to ensure the safety of students and teachers using the labs.“There shall be one main door and at least one more fire escape door, both as far apart as possible, a third door to exit from stores or preparation room areas,” the report reads.The ministry also advocates for laboratories to be built on the ground floor, and for storey buildings to have safety ramps or mechanical lifts.Ministry Orders Expansion Of Lab Services In Schools To Accommodate All Subjects