The government has disbursed Sh. 4.2 billion to help in the construction of new infrastructure in all public institutions of basic education (primary and secondary schools) with the progressive roll-out of the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC) ongoing.
While speaking in Kisumu on Wednesday, the Cabinet Secretary for Education Prof George Magoha addressed fears that the government was facing problems in implementing the CBC.
According to CS Magoha the 26-member presidential taskforce report revealed that the rollout is the best tool to achieve a holistic model of education.
Grade 4 and Form One students are set to report for the first term of the 2022 academic year this coming month.
According to CS Magoha, the Ministry of Education has received funds totaling Sh. 4.2 billion to boost infrastructure in schools as the government switches its focus on the new curriculum (the CBC). A total of 1.3 million learners are set to report to Grade 5.
“As far as Grade 5 is concerned, the books are already in schools so when we reopen on August 5, every child in Grade 5 will find a book in school and a desk to sit on,” said CS Magoha.
Sh. 1.9 billion of the Sh. 4.2 billion disbursed will be used to set up new classrooms in selected primary and secondary schools.
Besides, CS Magoha said that the Ministry is at the moment digitally compiling a list of expected beneficiaries to eliminate any occurrences of misappropriations.
“For example, the desks which we were supplying at Sh. 3,500, some other people have been charging an amount of Sh. 7,000, so where does the Sh. 3,500 go? So this is a matter which is not political and we shall be ready and willing to deal,” added CS Magoha.
In February, President Uhuru appointed a 26 member task force that came up with a report n the implementation matrix of the CBC that is set to replace the 32-year-old Competency-Based Curriculum.
In February, the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (KICD) conducted an evaluation and subsequent approval of textbooks to be used for the 14 subjects offered at the primary level under the CBC program.