By Benson Ndiwa
The national government has been urged to improve infrastructural developments in support of the Junior secondary schools.
Speaking during a prayer day function in Mumias Central Comprehensive School, Kakamega governor Fernandez Barassa said that more allocation should go towards the construction of classrooms and capacity of learning through enhanced learning materials.
The Governor’s remarks come day after the state announced the release of Sh18.8 billion for the construction of 16000 Junior Secondary School classrooms for grade 9 learners to ensure easy transition.
Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba has said the government is well prepared and committed to meet its obligations and the money is allocated for construction of classrooms in Primary schools where JSS is domiciled and are meant to accommodate grade 9 learners.
At the same time Governor Barasa highlighted the teething problem of understaffing within schools
According to the governor Barasa, the current allocation of teachers stands at 50% which is below the required number.
“We need more teachers in our junior secondary, the current allocated teachers are less than the required number, in fact they’re less than 50%”
This comes as the government confirms the recruitment of 46,000 JSS teachers by January next year.
However, the TSC CEO Nancy Macharia admitted to a crisis in the sector after falling short of Junior secondary science teachers despite overwhelming 314,117 teachers.
Speaking when she appeared before the National Assembly Committee on Education to respond to questions on the employment of JSC teachers, Macharia said that most of the applicants were arts teachers whose positions are already filled.
“Majority of teachers that are coming out of our universities are arts, we don’t get science teachers when you advertise. But we must agree that we have a shortage of science teachers, we have written to the education ministry several times.” Dr Nancy Macharia said while appearing before the committee.
The grade 6 students are expected to start their Kenya Primary School Education Assessment (KEPSEA) national exam on Monday 28th of October 2024, this being the first time the national assessment is conducted solely without tagging it along Kenya Certificate Primary Education, which has phased out.