The Principal Secretary (PS) for Basic Education, Dr. Belio Kipsang, has assured Kenyans that the construction of classrooms for Grade Nine learners, a key element of the ongoing transition to the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC), will be fully completed by December 15, 2024.
Speaking at the Meru County headquarters on Friday, November 15, 2024, after overseeing the opening of the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) examination container, Dr. Kipsang gave an optimistic update on the progress made thus far.
Dr. Kipsang confirmed that the government had made significant strides in building the classrooms, with projects across various regions now between 40 and 90 percent complete.
Despite initial concerns over potential delays, the PS reassured parents and stakeholders that all efforts were on track and would meet the set deadlines.
The PS outlined the progress of the classroom construction, starting with Phase-One, which had already seen the completion of 3,500 classrooms.
Phase-Two, which involves the construction of an additional 7,500 classrooms, is currently underway, with a completion rate ranging between 40 to 90 percent in different parts of the country.
The goal is to complete this phase by December 15, 2024, bringing the total number of classrooms constructed to 11,000.
“We are making good progress in building the classrooms required for Grade Nine, and we are confident that the entire project will be completed on time. By December 15, we expect to have 11,000 classrooms ready for use, and this is an important milestone in our ongoing efforts to implement the Competency-Based Curriculum effectively,” Dr. Kipsang said.
In addition to the 11,000 classrooms already under construction, Dr. Kipsang highlighted a further expansion plan supported by Members of Parliament (MPs).
Through a conditional grant of Sh6.8 billion, MPs are expected to facilitate the construction of an additional 7,000 classrooms, which would bring the total number of classrooms to 18,000 for Grade Nine learners.
The conditional grant is structured as a partnership between the national government and MPs, with each side contributing Sh3.4 billion for the additional classrooms.
This collaboration between the political and national governments is expected to address the growing demand for infrastructure as more learners transition to secondary education under the new curriculum.
“Our colleagues from the political side, the MPs, were given a conditional grant of Sh3.4 billion by the government, and they were supposed to match this amount with another Sh3.4 billion from the National Government Constituency Development Fund (NGCDF). The combined efforts will result in the construction of 7,000 additional classrooms, bringing the total to 18,000,” explained Dr. Kipsang.
The government has also secured additional funding to ensure that any last-minute needs for classrooms are met.
Dr. Kipsang revealed that the national government had received Sh2 billion, which will be used to construct another 2,000 classrooms.
This, he said, would provide a safety net for any schools that might experience sudden enrollment spikes or delays in infrastructure readiness.
“We know that in January, there might be a few schools that may not have sufficient classrooms due to various reasons. These 2,000 classrooms will address any emerging issues and ensure that all learners have access to the necessary infrastructure when schools reopen,” Dr. Kipsang assured.
Dr. Kipsang further emphasized that while the government was on track to meet its targets, they were also preparing for potential challenges in January 2025.
Some schools may experience unexpected changes in enrollment due to migration or parents transferring students, which could impact the availability of classrooms.
To mitigate this, the government is ensuring that the additional 2,000 classrooms will be available to accommodate any overflow of learners.
“We are not blind to the fact that sometimes families move, and students may change schools or be transferred, especially after completing Grade Eight. Therefore, we are putting measures in place to handle these cases as they arise,” said Dr. Kipsang.
The ongoing efforts to construct classrooms are part of a broader plan to ensure that the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC) is fully implemented across Kenya.
The government has committed significant resources to ensure that the infrastructure is in place to support the growing number of learners as they transition to secondary education under the new curriculum framework.
Dr. Kipsang’s reassurances came at a time when many parents and stakeholders had raised concerns about the adequacy of classroom facilities.
However, with the significant progress made in construction and the additional funds secured for further expansion, the government’s commitment to the CBC transition appears to be firmly on track.
“We understand the importance of education and the need for proper infrastructure to support our learners. I want to assure all parents, teachers, and students that we are committed to making this transition smooth, and by December 15, 2024, we will have the necessary classrooms ready for our Grade Nine learners,” Dr. Kipsang concluded.
Dr. Kipsang’s assurance also addressed concerns regarding the quality of education and the preparedness of teachers to deliver the new curriculum.
The PS stated that the Ministry had been working on continuous professional development for educators, ensuring that they were well-equipped to handle the diverse needs of learners under CBC.
Furthermore, he highlighted that the government’s investment in infrastructure would complement these efforts by ensuring that classrooms are modern, spacious, and suitable for the new learning environment.
The PS’s remarks come at a time when the government is making a concerted effort to overhaul the education system to better serve the needs of the country’s youth, as part of its long-term vision to develop a highly skilled workforce that can meet the demands of a rapidly changing global economy.
