As the country gears up for the transition of the first cohort of Junior Secondary School (JSS) students into Grade 9, a concerning reality is unfolding.
Despite the Ministry of Education‘s assurances that everything is in place for the reopening of schools on Monday, many learners in Nyamira County and other remote areas will face
significant challenges.
When these students report to school, they will find themselves in overcrowded or inadequate classrooms that are far from ready to accommodate them.
At Omobiro Primary School in North Mugirango, for instance, a former Early Childhood Development and Education (ECDE) classroom, which has long been abandoned, is set to host 42 Grade 9 students next week.
This room, which was once used by younger pupils, is now expected to serve as a classroom for the new Grade 9 learners, highlighting the stark reality many schools are facing.
Despite claims from the Ministry of Education that 98 percent of Grade 9 classrooms have been constructed, Omobiro Primary will make do with the dilapidated structure, as the promised funds never materialized.
The school’s Board Chairman, Evans Okioga, expressed frustration, saying, “We hear that the government has promised funds for the construction of classrooms across the country, but our school has not received anything.
No money has been deposited into our account. We are left wondering what is happening.”
The 42 pioneering learners from Omobiro Primary will return to a classroom that is far from ideal, a far cry from the improved learning conditions they had hoped for as they advanced in grade.
Okioga further explained, “We have arranged the classroom as best as we can, but it is still filled with items like firewood, roofing sheets, and other materials.”
The situation is equally dire in West Mugirango Constituency, where Masosa Primary School is grappling with the dilemma of where to accommodate over 120 Grade 9 students.
Board Chair Lucy Mwangi said, “We haven’t received any assistance, and we’re left wondering where we will put these children when they arrive.”
Their plans to build two classrooms were delayed when the government failed to release the necessary funds, despite the school awarding a tender for the construction and the contractor requesting a deposit to begin work.
“We are facing challenges because some schools have received funding, but we have seen nothing,” added Mwangi, highlighting the disparities between different schools.
At Egesieri Primary School, a late advertisement dated December 30th was found, seeking bids for the construction of a Grade 9 classroom just days before schools are set to reopen.
This late effort underscores the ongoing struggles in remote areas, where schools are not only short of classrooms but also lack adequate teaching staff.
Meanwhile, schools in other parts of the country, such as Moi Forces Academy and Midas Academy in Machakos, are ahead of the curve, with their teachers undergoing retooling at the Gravity CBC Resource Centre in preparation for the new term.
Vitalis Oyoo, the Board Chair of Moi Forces Academy, emphasized the importance of a well-trained human resource, stating,
“A well-equipped human resource will always propel the country to greater heights, and that’s why we continuously bring together our parents and teachers to ensure we know what is expected of us.”
As the government’s promises to fully support the transition to Junior Secondary School are tested by these local challenges, the question remains:
will the system be able to provide the resources and infrastructure needed to support all students, or will these disparities continue to grow?
KNCHR Boss Roseline Odede Is Dead
