Fr. Benjamin Ndemo, a priest in Etago, Kisii County, has called for urgent investment in school infrastructure to support Grade 10 learning, warning that many institutions, particularly rural C3 and C4 secondary schools, lack adequate facilities to deliver quality education. Ndemo said the national push to ensure all Grade 10 learners report to school must be matched with laboratories, libraries, and sufficient learning materials to sustain effective teaching and learning.
While commending both the National Government and county administrations for expanding education support through bursary schemes such as NG-CDF, Ndemo noted that staffing and subsidised fees alone are not enough.
“The government has provided enough teachers to some schools and facilitated subsidised fees payment by parents for their children, but still, this may not pay back well unless the institutions’ infrastructure is updated,” he said.
He urged Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba to prioritise rural C3 and C4 schools, arguing that equity in education depends on strengthening the learning environment where need is greatest.
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Ndemo cited St. Peter’s Nyangweta, Moticho Girls, Nyatwoni, St. Alphonce Nyabine, and Nyasasa Secondary School as examples of institutions with strong potential that require improved facilities to accommodate growing enrolment and support better outcomes.
Beyond government action, he appealed to local communities to organise Village Education Watch groups to mobilise resources for school development, reduce overreliance on public funding, and foster shared responsibility for education. He said community-led initiatives can complement state efforts and help ensure learners study in safe, well-equipped environments.
By Enock Okong’o
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