As the new school term approaches, the Ministry of Education has moved to assure parents, learners, and schools that the country is fully prepared for the Grade 9 transition under the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC).

Speaking in Mombasa after a meeting with County Directors of Education from the Coast region, Principal Secretary for Basic Education, Dr. Belio Kipsang, said teams have been working tirelessly to ensure a smooth reopening of schools.

According to the PS, the government has been expanding infrastructure and strengthening learning resources to accommodate the current cohort of Grade 8 learners moving into Junior Secondary School (JSS).

Majority of Kenyans Support JSS in Primary Schools

Dr. Kipsang noted that the transition aligns with the recommendations of the Presidential Working Party on Education Reform, which found that 93% of Kenyans preferred JSS to remain within primary schools.

He added that since CBC was introduced in 2017, the transition from one grade to the next has been largely smooth, with any challenges encountered being effectively addressed over time.

Books and Learning Materials Ready

The PS assured the public that the government has ensured availability of learning materials for all classes.

“From the day we started with Grade One up to Grade Nine, we have supplied books to every level,” he said.

He confirmed that 9.9 million Grade 9 textbooks have already been printed, with 85% of schools having received their allocations. Distribution to the remaining schools is currently ongoing.

Classroom Construction Nearing Completion

To support the growing Junior Secondary population, the government has expanded classroom capacity significantly.

So far, 13,200 classrooms have been completed out of the targeted 16,000. Of these:

10,100 were built by the Ministry of Education

3,100 were constructed through the National Government–Constituency Development Fund (NG-CDF)

An additional 2,800 classrooms are still under construction and will be finalized ahead of reopening. Dr. Kipsang acknowledged that a few schools with lower enrolment still require classrooms, but plans are underway to ensure they are catered for.

The Ministry’s own target was 11,000 classrooms, while CDF was expected to deliver 6,800.

“We are pushing CDF, although their approval processes take a bit longer,” the PS noted.

Teacher Recruitment Strengthens Junior Secondary Workforce

Addressing concerns over staffing, Dr. Kipsang reported that the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) has made significant progress in boosting the number of teachers in Junior Secondary Schools.

20,000 intern teachers have been newly recruited

46,000 intern teachers have been converted to permanent and pensionable terms

Altogether, over 80,000 teachers are now serving in Junior Secondary Schools. However, the PS acknowledged that the system ideally requires more than 140,000 teachers.

“As we move forward, we will continue working to ensure every learner has access to the teachers they need,” he said.

All Systems Set for Reopening

Dr. Kipsang concluded by affirming that schools across the country have put in place adequate measures to ensure uninterrupted learning once the term begins.

With classrooms nearing completion, books already delivered, and thousands of teachers in place, the Ministry says it is confident that Grade 9 learners will transition smoothly as planned

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