By Achola Bulimo Mathews
Education stakeholders from Bungoma county have urged the Presidential Working Party on Education Reforms taskforce to domicile Junior Secondary Schools (JSSs) in primary schools to cater for the Grade 6 learners, whom they claimed are still underage to transit to secondary.
Addressing the press at St Teresa’s Sio Secondary School after presenting his views, KNUT Bungoma East Executive Secretary Mr Aggrey Namisi Murumba noted that the Ministry of Education, under the leadership of former CS Prof George Magoha, failed to fully conduct public participation before the implementation of CBC.
Namisi noted that most schools lack the requisite facilities for the curriculum.
“Public secondary schools aren’t fully prepared to host JSSs due to inadequate infrastructural facilities like dormitories, classrooms and rooms for science practicals,” he added.
The official also added that teachers should be fully trained on in service programmes and equipped with relevant teaching materials for the success of the curriculum.
Bungoma County KEPSHA Chairman Mr Walter Kwanusu, who is also Nalondo CBM Secondary School Principal, urged the national government to consider schools with special needs students when issuing out capitation.
Benard Wafula, a parent, said that CBC is good but it was rushed into implementation.
“If CBC is given time and every stakeholder gives their input in it, it will be a very useful system to our students and the society since it is practical oriented,” he said.
Student representatives from various schools in the county said that CBC should not be scrapped off as it has the potential to change the education sector if a few parameters are adjusted in its implementation.
“CBC should not be done away with. However, the high cost should be regulated to accommodate both students from poor and able families “said Brian Walekhwa, a form three student from Bungoma High School.
Kibabii University Vice Chancellor Prof Isaac Odeo Ipara said CBC is a good curriculum and that varsity dons and students should be fully involved in its implementation.
The don further stated that Kenya Universities and Colleges Central Placement Services (KUCCPS) should first place students in public universities to help in terms of capitation.
Wistone Akala, the team leader of the taskforce deployed in western and Nandi regions, said that most people complained of the high cost of CBC implementation, few trained teachers and lack of specialized infrastructure.
