President Uhuru Kenyatta has stressed the need to improve infrastructure in schools, following the achievement of the 100% transition of students from primary to secondary schools for a second year running. The need for more classes, dormitories and learning structures in schools had already been aired by several leaders, keeping in mind the fact that learning in the Covid-19 pandemic era requires more learning spaces and efficiency. Speaking during the State of the nation address, President Kenyatta acknowledged that improving education requires more input in both content and infrastructure.
He said students are suffering due to congestion in classes and dormitories, adding that leaders at constituency level and the national government will in the coming months work to address this issue, adding that funds will be set aside for construction of structures, “Conscious of the fact that significant financial resources will be deployed towards the construction of at least 12,500 new classrooms and related school facilities,” he said, “In that regard, the Ministry of Education and the Ministry Transport, Infrastructure, Housing and Urban Development will by 1st December, 2020 issue a new set of building guidelines for school infrastructure… that allows the use of appropriate and cost effective building technologies suited to the varied geographies of our nation.”
With success registered in the 100% transition to schools, he said the implementation of the Competency Based Curriculum is also on course, with efforts to replace the 8-4-4 system ongoing and refinements being taken in the course of the implementation of the CBC. On the gradual reopening of schools, he said the process is going on well with exam classes being closely monitored so as to ensure students who are in schools are safe and secure. He said the Education Ministry will within 14 days from today announce the 2021 academic calendar, “With all other classes expected to resume learning in January 2021.”
He further lauded the progress made in enrolling youths to Technical Vocational Education and Training Institutes (TVETs), which is all part of the plan to help young people become owners of capitals, from earners of wages. “Today I am proud to report that we have so far enrolled 430,598 students into 182 technical/vocational training colleges across the country,” he stated.