Magoha counts on private schools to provide 5,000 classes for junior high

Education Cabinet Secretary George Magoha has urged private schools and entrepreneurs to invest in junior secondary schools.

This, the CS says, will help facilitate smooth rollout of the Competency Based Curriculum Based Competency (CBC) amid the 

He said for a smooth transition, schools require adequate classrooms. On top of the 10,000 classrooms constructed by the government in public schools, private institutions are expected to provide 5,000.

Magoha, who was speaking at Kodero Bara Secondary School in Migori County after inspecting junior secondary classes said the government was almost reaching its target in the classrooms programme. The government has registered 1.28 million grade six learners, a number it hopes will join junior secondary schools.

He urged Kenyans not to politicize the education system, saying the government is committed to addressing gaps in CBVC, including ensuring provision of adequate facilities in learning institutions countrywide.

“It is the responsibility of the government to ensure there is conducive atmosphere in learning institutions that will enable learners to achieve their dreams. We are keen in implementing that,” Magoha said.

At the same time, the CS accused some principals of peddling lies that they had not received funding from the government.

“The noise we are hearing from misinformed principals should be ignored,” he said.

Speaking when he toured construction of a resource enter at Ogande Girls Secondary School in Homa Bay County yesterday, Magoha said the government had disbursed capitation fund of Sh16.9 billion to schools.

“We disbursed the capitation funds in April but we still hear of some school heads complaining. Those complaining are either politicians or misinformed principals. Let them be truthful and stop such claims,” Magoha said.

Magoha told school heads to utilize public funds prudently. This, he said, will ensure value for money to enable students get quality education.

“I don’t want to anybody to corrupt the system and my instruction is that every shilling should be accounted for,” Magoha said.

With less than two months to the General Election, Magoha warned education officials against laxity.