In Summary
- The government of Kenya has abolished boarding primary schools for pupils learning in grades 1 to 9.
- Education PS Mr. Belio Kipsang made the announcement during the official opening ceremony of the 18th Kenya Primary School Heads Association (KEPSHA) in Mombasa
- The PS also underscored the need for the government to do away with the categorization of secondary
The government of Kenya has today announced the abolishment of boarding primary schools for pupils learning in grades 1 to 9.
The Principal Secretary in charge of Education Mr. Belio Kipsang said that parents will have to take their primary schools kids to day schools. “We must create a way in which we can be with our children and the only way is through day schooling. The first nine years of learning that are Grades 1 to 9, the direction that the government is taking will be day schooling,” said PS Kipsang’.
The PS made the announcement during the official opening ceremony of the 18th Kenya Primary School Heads Association (KEPSHA) in Mombasa. He noted that parents have the primary responsibility as first educators to walk with their children and ensure that they acquire the right values they desire them to have; more so at the tender age.
“We cannot outsource our responsibility as we parents, we only co-parent with teachers but we cannot outsource parenting from the teachers,” Kipsang’ said.
Kipsang said parents should create more time with their kids adding that Kenya has the highest percentage of its children globally in boarding schools, standing at 28 per cent.
“Going forward, day schooling will be the direction, that’s the only way we shall be able to engage with our children.”This means all the Junior Secondary learners will be Dayscholars.
He also underscored the need for the government to do away with the categorization of secondary schools as part of the reforms that will help streamline the Competency Based Curriculum (CBC).
Presidential Working Party on Education Reform recommended that Junior Secondary Schools (JSS) be domiciled in the existing primary schools. The task force also asked the government to ensure that Grade 6 Kenya Primary School Education Assessment (KPSEA) is not be used for placement in JSS.
According to Prof Raphael Munavu-led team,the test should be used as an assessment to monitor learning progress while at the same time providing feedback to education stakeholders on areas that require intervention.
Primary head teachers have since been asked to ascertain the capacity of pupils they can accommodate in their respective schools. At the same time, the government is currently building extra classrooms and laboratories in every primary school. The construction of laboratories has given priority in the next one year, PS Belio confirmed.
He also asked Kenyans to exercise patience even as government continues with development of infrastructure. The government has also doubled the beneficiaries of school feeding programs as well increase the allocation of the Free Primary Education National Fund as it looks for money to cater for non-tuition costs for learners.
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