The Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) Executive Secretary for Yatta has called on the government to employ more teachers to cover junior secondary school learners.
“At the moment, there is no way the current number of teachers can handle the Competence-Based Currriculum (CBC). More teachers need to be employed and the government should take this seriously,” said Ngui.
Speaking while at Machakos Girls High School during a session hosted by the Presidential Working Party on Education Reforms on Friday where views were collected from the public regarding the CBC, the KNUT official said that the Junior Secondary School (JSS) should be hosted in primary schools.
He said that it would be easy for primary schools to accommodate junior secondary school since classes are already available which are at the moment being occupied by Class Seven and Eight learners.
The KNUT boss urged the government to take the issues raised on the CBC seriously and act on them accordingly.
During the presentation, the KNUT boss’s entourage comprised KNUT officials from Mwala and Kangundo.
President Ruto to announce decision on Grade 6 learners’ fate
President William Ruto is set to make a decision regarding the fate of Grade 6 learners who are set to join Junior Secondary School next year.
More than 3.5 Million Grade 6 pupils are set to undergo a national assessment for primary schools between the 28th and the 30th of November which will run at the same time as the Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) examination.
On Thursday the 10th of November, President Ruto said that learners who are expected to join the junior secondary school will be able to know whether they will study in primary or secondary institutions.
Speaking when chairing the inaugural meeting of his new Cabinet, Dr William Ruto promised to offer “guidance” on the subject based on recommendations from the Presidential Working Party which has been doing an assessment on the Competency-Based Curriculum. (CBC).
Following the Cabinet meeting, the task force issued an update on the assessment.
“The meeting noted that the Presidential Working Party had thus far conducted public hearings in a total of 37 counties. In that regard, the team would conclude the county hearings and thereafter receive oral submissions from stakeholders, including Teachers Unions, Associations, Parliament, and others by the 24th November 2022,” read part of the statement.
Members of the task force have today been in ten counties to collect views from the public. Today was the last day with the task force has spent time in Tan River, Machakos, Tharaka Nithi, Kiambu, Uasin Gishu, Kajiado, Vihiga, Kisumu, Nairobi and Nakuru.
Findings from the task force will be presented to President Ruto who will then make a decision on whether the learners will go to secondary schools or remain in primary schools for junior high education.
At the moment learners have already selected their preferred junior secondary schools. However, many stakeholders in education are of the opinion that junior secondary schools should be hosted in primary schools.
The tender age of learners has been cited by parents as well as the distances to junior secondary schools and issues of learner discipline.
Junior Secondary school will comprise of Grade 7, 8 and 9 with learners proceeding to senior secondary school after that. Senior Secondary School comprises Grades 10, 11 and 12.