The Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) has come out strongly stating that the teachers are not well trained and schools are understaffed to handle junior secondary students in line with the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC).
Speaking to the media after attending a closed-door meeting in Narok on Thursday February 3, national officials led by Secretary General Akello Misori, noted that CS Magoha needs to prioritise teachers’ training.
“We are dearly disturbed that there is so much concern about space as he focuses on CBC. We want to see action on the development of our teachers in readiness to grade seven and grade eight which follow their completion of grade six preparation,” KUPPET secretary general Akelo Misori stated.
Misori further asked the Ministry of Education to partner with other stakeholders to ensure that adequate infrastructure is available for CBC in secondary schools ahead of the transition.
KUPPET national deputy chairman Julius Korir also echoed Akelo Misori’s sentiments noting that teachers are not well trained to handle grade seven and eight students.
“No teacher is ready and they have not been trained how this CBC will be, we are asking CS Magoha before we start grade seven and eight we would like the preparation to be done faster,” KUPPET deputy chair Korir stated.
On 18th January 2022, Basic Education Principal Secretary Julius Jwan announced that the junior secondary school will be domiciled both in secondary and primary schools.
While speaking Speaking at St Peter’s Kotieno Secondary School in Rachuonyo South, Homa Bay County, when he commissioned the construction of additional classrooms, Dr Jwan said in some situations the government will use classrooms in primary schools to host learners joining junior secondary schools.
“Classrooms used by pupils of class seven and eight will remain vacant due to the introduction of the CBC. But the classrooms will not go to waste because they are public resources. Instead, they will be used by students of Junior secondary schools,” Jwan said.
Two separate sets of national examinations will be administered in 2022 before the next transition.