Uhuru Allocates Sh 8 Billion to Build CBC Classrooms
During the Mashujaa day celebrations held in Kirinyaga, His Excellency President Uhuru Kenyatta announced that his administration has allocated Sh 8 Billion to construct over ten thousand junior secondary school classes.
In the new Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC), the junior secondary will comprise Grades 7, 8 and 9. CBC’s pioneer learners will move to junior secondary school after completing their Grade 6 national examination.
The Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (KICD) revealed that curriculum designs have been completed and are now ready for Grades one to ten.
“The Ministry of Education jointly with the Ministry of Interior and the National Treasury shall establish a framework for the construction of over 10,000 classrooms needed to provide the additional learning space required for the one million new students,” said President Uhuru.
President Uhuru also implored lawmakers to prioritize the programme via the National Government Constituencies Development Fund by building a further 10,000 classrooms.
“I call on all Members of Parliament to stand together in solidarity with our children by prioritizing allocation of CDF funds to school infrastructure,” added President Uhuru.
If the Members of Parliament (MPs) do as they have been urged to do, then this means that together with the national government’s allocation of funds, then by the time the CBC’s pioneer learners move to junior secondary, their classrooms will be ready to receive them.
According to the Teachers Service Commission (TSC), secondary school teachers are going to be trained to be able to handle the content contained in the new curriculum.
For simple, this means that more than sixty thousand teachers will be trained in March and April next year in preparation for teaching in the CBC form.
Primary school teachers will also be trained, especially those handling the Grade Six learners this December.
According to President Uhuru, the new classrooms should cost around Sh. 810,000 and shall be built by constructors who are based near the locations of the schools.
“The initiative will tap into skilled manpower with the counties and hence empower locals with enhanced economic opportunities,” said the Head of State.
Unfortunately, despite the efforts of both the Head of State and Members of Parliament, the classrooms will still be less by a whopping 17,000 with the CBC task force having projected that the government should build 37,000 new classrooms to cover for the looming double intake of learners.
The double intake will involve both Grade 6 and Class 8 learners from both the 8-4-4 and the CBC in joining secondary level at the same. A total of 2,571, 044 will join secondary schools across the country with space only available for only 1,081,900. Therefore, 1,489,144 places will still be required in secondary schools come 2023.
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