Editor's Review

“Schools must desist from asking parents to construct new classrooms for the current Grade 8 candidates."

Education Cabinet Secretary Ezekiel Machogu has instructed all schools to ensure candidates who sat for the 2023 Kenya Primary Schools Education Assessment are allowed to join Grade 7 in their respective primary schools where they attended Grades 1-6. 

In a statement on Friday, January 12, Machogu noted that he has received complaints of some Junior Secondary Schools (JSS) charging extra fees to expand infrastructure and others demanding new uniforms for Grade 7 students.

“Since the opening day, the Ministry of Education has received a number of reports that some Junior Secondary Schools (JSS) are charging levies on the pretext of expanding infrastructure to accommodate learners joining Grade 8 in 2024. Other schools are demanding new school uniforms for the Grade 7 learners,” read the statement in part.

To ensure smooth learning at the JSS level CS Machogu directed schools to ensure Grade 7 learners utilize the classrooms that were used by the current Grade 8 learners in 2023.

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File image of Education CS Ezekiel Machogu and PS Belio Kipsang. 

The Education CS ordered schools to allow Grade 7 learners to attend school in uniforms that they used while in Grade 6 in 2023 as parents and guardians make efforts to buy new outfits for the JSS.

CS Machogu also said Grade 8 learners should utilize the classrooms left vacant by the last cohort of the Standard 8 candidates who sat for KCPE in 2023.

“Schools must desist from asking parents to construct new classrooms for the current Grade 8 candidates. The Government plans to spend Sh12.8 Billion to facilitate the construction of 15,015 classrooms for JSS over the next one year,” the Education CS stated.

Machogu further warned all Heads of Institutions against charging any levies from parents saying they should use Sh 7.6 billion released last week for JSS learners.

Additionally, CS Machogu asked field officers from the Ministry of Education to be vigilant in the regions and ensure all joining instructions to Junior Secondary schools and Form One are strictly complied with.