President Ruto Warned of Looming CBC Crisis Following Gachagua’s Directive.
President William Ruto was warned of an impending crisis in January 2023 if his Deputy Rigathi Gachagua’s decision about the establishment of Competency-Based Curriculum laboratories remains in place.
During an interview on Tuesday, December 6, members of Parliament and officials from the Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) encouraged the Head of State to intervene before the transition of Grade Six children to junior secondary.
Omboko Milemba, chairman of KUPPET and member of parliament for Emuhaya, said that the government must enhance its allocation of the Constituency Development Fund (NG-CDF) if the DP’s directive is to be successfully implemented.
He stated that the CDF budget was insufficient to create labs in all schools and urged the government to return to the initiative of former President Uhuru Kenyatta.
“For the MPs to build labs, the government must increase the money for the kitties.
“Let us not forget the schools that were built in secondary schools. They should be allowed to use them. A fence should not limit the use of the classes,” he stated.
Mark Nyamita, a representative from Uriri, accused the government of abandoning its responsibilities.
While noting that the administration had granted permission for seventh graders to use labs in nearby high schools, he observed that the move was inapplicable.
“For example, I have over 100 primary schools. Suppose I am to build a lab that costs Ksh3.5 million. That means I will need Ksh350 million, and that is not enough.
“If you say that they should go and use labs in secondary and you have 400 students, then they cannot fit. So this is a big crisis,” he stated.
The parties presented their remarks when DP Gachagua requested that the Ksh44,2 CDF money be used to improve junior secondary infrastructure.
During a ceremony in Murang’a County, he declared, “We are asking the 290 MPs to erect a laboratory and offices within a very short period of time so that junior secondary schools are operational within a year.”
On January 23, 2023, sixth graders will transition to junior high school at the start of the new academic year.
President William Ruto ordered that junior secondary schools be housed in elementary schools. On Tuesday, December 6, the Principal Secretary of Basic Education, Dr. Belio Kipsang, revealed additional plans to eliminate the boarding system from Grade 1 to Grade 9.
President Ruto Warned of Looming CBC Crisis Following Gachagua’s Directive.
