NAIROBI, Kenya Jan 16 – Close to Sh9.6 billion will be spent for students in Junior Secondary Schools (JSS) this academic year, Education Cabinet Secretary Ezekiel Machogu has announced.
This is part of the government measures to ensure 100 percent school transition from primary school to Junior Secondary School at Grade 7.
“His Excellency the President William Ruto has directed the National Treasury to disburse Sh 15,000 as capitation per learner to facilitate free learning in all our Public schools. In total the government will spend Sh 9.6 Billion for learners in JSS,” said Machogu.
Public Schools have further been directed not to charge parents any school fees unless they have boarding wings which will attract extra costs.
“Prohibition of public schools from charging any admission fee for any grade 7 learner due to 100 percent transition policy of Grade 7 learners within the same school,” the Education CS said.
All 1,253,577 candidates who sat the 2022 Kenya Primary School Education Assessment (KPSEA) exam will start to access the results from Tuesday, January 17, 2023.
The Education CS made the announcement even as he stated that the Junior Secondary Schools (JSS) will be opened on 30 January 2023.
Machogu who was speaking during a press briefing on release of Form One placement results at Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (KICD), said all the learners who sat exam will transit to junior secondary.
“I am happy to announce that the exercise has already been completed and that schools will be able to access the reports through the KNEC portal from tomorrow, Tuesday 17,” he declared.
The KPSEA results will not determine how pupils will proceed to junior high school.
The Education Ministry is tomorrow also expected to give an update on which institutions will host junior secondary schools following the ongoing assessment of primary schools countrywide.
Parents have asked the government to consider postponing the school opening dates as the issue of whether junior secondary school students will have different uniforms from the other lower classes is yet to be clarified.
Another issue is the status of the school infrastructure and just how much fees parents will pay for their grade seven pupils.
