Private Schools Urged To Invest In Junior Secondary.
The government has urged private school owners to increase infrastructure investment in preparation for the transition of Grade Six students to junior secondary school.
Education Principal Quality Assurance and Standards Susan Onyango said during a session with private school directors at the Moi Education Centre in Nairobi that the high number of the pioneer class of students to be enrolled in the junior secondary in January next year will only be possible if private schools do their part to ensure they are ready for the transition.
In 2023, about 2.5 million students will move from Grade Six to Junior Secondary. Over 1.3 million students will enter Form One under the 8.4.4 system, while 1.2 million will enter Grade Seven, or Junior Secondary.
“Government institutions don’t have the capacity to accommodate all those learners, and this is why we need the private schools to also be ready to,’’ said Onyango.
According to Onyango, only 54 private schools in Nairobi County have applied to implement the junior secondary school plan in their institutions, which is lower than expected. She stated that the first two years will be critical for the system’s implementation.
‘‘Next year and 2024 will be critical to us in the implementation of the transition due to the influx of learners in our institutions. The pressure will ease in 2025.
She acknowledged the role of private schools in supplementing the government mandate to provide basic education to all, stating that in Nairobi alone, private schools account for 65% of student enrolment each year.
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In Nairobi County, there are 250 private schools versus 205 public schools. She said Private schools are excellent partners for the government in the delivery of basic education.
During the session, Onyango explained that under the new 2–6–3–3–3 education system, students will spend a total of 17 years in school – two in pre-primary, six in primary, three in junior secondary, three in senior secondary, and three more in university.
Junior secondary education will begin in Grade 7 and end in Grade 9, with students required to take 12 core subjects.
Private Schools Urged To Invest In Junior Secondary
