Schools hosting Junior Secondary learners in Uasin Gishu have been asked not to turn away any student because of lack of sufficient classrooms or desks.
County Director of Education Harison Muriuki has also cautioned school management against asking parents to bring desks or introduce any other levies to the Junior Secondary students expected to join on January 30, 2023.
Addressing school heads and other education stakeholders in Kapseret, Muriuki said the focus should be on admitting as many Junior Secondary School learners as possible.
He said once admissions are done, the government will work on supporting schools that lack facilities suh as classrooms and desks.
Help will come
“There have been concerns about facilities and we’re saying can you admit all of them, whether they sit on stones help will come. There will be a lot of support to schools from government and well-wishers,” said the County Director of Education.
“If any student comes don’t turn them away. Admit them. Even if it’s a tent, set it up. Your issue will be highlighted by the media and help will come. In a school without facilities, don’t worry hata kama ni mawe tafta wakae chini – help wil come,” he added.
The county education boss also cautioned schools against turning away students for lack of uniforms.
Grade six learners from across the country will from Monday transition to Junior Secondary Schools (Grade Seven), but all of them will be domiciled in the current primary schools.
Laboratories
With the government still working on ensuring each of the schools have a laboratory, Muriuki asked that they start making preparations on how they will share the facility with nearby secondary schools.
He however assured that by April 2023, a majority of the schools will have a laboratory.
“By April, all schools will have well equipped labs done by either national government, National Government Constituency Development Fund (NG-CDF) or well-wishers,” said the CDE.
Last week, Education Cabinet Secretary revealed that the government was working on securing a partnership with the World Bank that would see at least 7,000 laboratories constructed for Junior Secondary Schools across the country.
The county education boss also asked junior secondary schools to work on setting up Parents Teacherd Association (PTA) to start addressing some of the challenges.
He however cautioned against forcing parents to pay for some school expesnes not sanctioned by the Ministry of Education.
“Call parents, if they agree on an area they can assist well and good – but don’t force on them,” Muriuki said.
