Nairobi – The Kenyan government has earmarked Sh.3.9 Billion for the construction of 15,021 classrooms for Junior Secondary Schools (JSS) by 2025. This development aims to accommodate the first cohort of grade 9 learners under the new educational framework. Education Cabinet Secretary, Hon. Ezekiel Machogu, announced the allocation during the 63rd Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) Annual Delegates Conference at the Kasarani Sports Complex, Nairobi.
According to Kenya News Agency, an additional Sh 9 Billion will be provided by the World Bank for constructing 9,000 more classrooms, supplemented by support from the National Government Constituency Development Fund (NGCDF). The funding is part of the government’s commitment to ensure the readiness of the classrooms by 2025, catering to the requirements of the new Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC).
During the conference, themed ‘The teachers we need for the education we want: The Kenyan Imperative to reverse the teacher shortage,’ Hon. Machogu emphasized the government’s efforts to ensure schools are equipped with necessary infrastructure, creating a conducive environment for teachers and learners. He acknowledged the role of KNUT in championing teachers’ welfare, which has significantly contributed to improving learner performance in schools.
“We remain committed as the Government to working with you to improve both the welfare of teachers and quality of Education for all in our schools,” the Cabinet Secretary stated. He also mentioned teachers’ crucial role in implementing the CBC and the recommendations of the Presidential Working Party on Education Reform.
The Cabinet Secretary challenged school administrators to participate actively in the government’s climate change agenda, targeting the planting of 15 billion trees by 2032, with schools playing a key role in tree planting and seedling propagation.
KNUT Secretary General Collins Oyuu praised the government for recruiting over 56,000 teachers in less than a year. He urged the Ministry of Education to initiate negotiations with the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) to place intern teachers on permanent and pensionable terms. “We are a professional body, and we know how to fight for the rights of our members without going to the streets to demonstrate,” Oyuu said.
Additionally, Mr. Oyuu called for an upward revision of school capitation to cope with the rising cost of living and advocated for affirmative action in marginalized communities. This measure aims to ensure uniform management of education across the country, as teachers continue to avoid assignments in arid and semi-arid areas.