The Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) Branch Executive for Chepkoilel Branch, Sammy Bor has called on the government through the Ministry of Education to build more infrastructure for the Junior Secondary Schools (JSS).
According to him, this is the only way the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC) can be a success.
While speaking to the press, Bor said that there were few classrooms as compared to the number of students who shall be joining the Junior Secondary School level.
“The government has done well in ensuring that there is a smooth transition. However, there are grey areas that need efforts by the government in terms of infrastructure, which we have a feeling might not be adequate to manage the 100 per cent transition and the double intake that this county is going to witness in the coming year,” said Bor.
In addition, he said that the classrooms and other infrastructural facilities that the government has built are not enough to handle the high number of students that will be joining JSS and secondary schools under both the CBC and the 8-4-4 system.
There is a looming double intake of learners in secondary schools next year with class eight learners and the pioneer class of the CBC all set to join the next level of their studies
“Regarding training of teachers, they have done it but it is not adequate as per what the curriculum demands of them because this is a huge transition and it requires a serious look into this arrangement,” added Bor.
He said that the new government should be careful while making any changes to the current system of education – the CBC – which is phasing out the 8-4-4 system gradually.
“We are talking about the lives of our children and our future and when we mess up with the education sector we have messed up with everything, therefore before making any changes, let us first do research,” he said.
According to Bor, the education sector is crucial in any country and a lot of care should be taken when addressing the issue.
Bor also lauded President-Elect William Samoei Ruto on his recent election as the Fifth President of Kenya.
“I want to advise the new administration as they craft their government on who to lead the education sector, they should be very careful. Prof George has done well in terms of transition and he is passionate, bringing a new person will mess up the whole equation and we support the government to give him time to continue with the administration as they wait for another CS.
“I want to congratulate William Ruto on his election. We know he is equal to the task because he transformed the sector while he was the Minister for Education,” added Bor.