Machogu Urged To Revisit Holiday Tuition Ahead Of School Reopening

Education Cabinet Secretary (CS) Ezekiel Machogu has been asked to revisit the issue of tuition during the holidays as the country prepares for the reopening of schools on January 23, 2023.

Set Green, Imperial boarding primary and Imperial Education Centre Director of schools, Charles Mochama said that the government should relook into the issue of tuition during the holidays and give schools liberty to help impact knowledge to the pupils in their studies and at the same time the school to be able to pay its teachers.

Mochama noted that the schools are ready to host junior secondary schools, noting that the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC) will impart knowledge and skills to the learners that were useful in contemporary society.

He added that they have followed instructions in ensuring Junior secondary school is a reality when schools resume this month.

Charles Mochama, Director of Imperial Education Center and Set Green speaking at his office on January 13, 2023. /VIRALTEAKE.ELIZABETH ANGIRA

Machogu stated that the national government will provide more funding for junior secondary schools (JSS) compared to what it will give for primary and high schools in a bid to support the development of the new academic programs countrywide.

Mochama said that they have positively welcomed the move by the government to have junior high school domiciled in the primary school whereby the pupils will have a smooth continuation with their studies without being interrupted by a change of schools.

He assured that the schools are ready and prepared with the infrastructure, including a laboratory and classes, expressing confidence in the school taking the students to the next level.

"We have followed the government instructions in ensuring everything is good once the pupils resume school on January 23," he said.

Mochama added that pupils being domiciled inside the primary school will relate well and have their studies continue normally.

"We have followed up with the instructions by the government while being compliant with the competency-based curriculum that our pupils have well been adapted to start with the junior high school and are optimistic that the pupils who will join will perform better as they have been well groomed and taken through on what to expect," he added.

According to Mochama, the parents are enrolling and the school has sent them the link where they are required to fill in their details.

He cited private schools' appreciation towards the government for allowing them to host the junior high schools, which will help the pupils blend well with the schools they are accustomed to.

A parent, John Mokua, observed that some schools will miss key facilities including laboratories and petitioned the government to assist in their installation. Ruth Bosibori however expressed that the new curriculum had trained her daughter to perform certain chores that she could not have managed at her tender age.

According to the government, for schools to be able to host junior secondary schools, an institution must be first registered under the National Education Management Information System (NEMIS) which is a web-based data management tool that collects data and information from educational institutions. The school must also have adequate physical facilities as well as at least two extra classrooms.

According to the Ministry of Education, institutions are required to have enough qualified teachers to handle the junior secondary school syllabus. Primary schools that neighbour secondary schools will in the interim share the laboratories and other facilities with junior secondary schools.

To facilitate the transition and bridge the teacher shortage, the government will recruit an additional 30,000 teachers in January 2023.

Image of a CBC classroom. /KENYA NEWS AGENCY