By Malachi Motano
The government since 2018 has been working on a programme to ensure that all class eight candidates transit to secondary school, Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) results notwithstanding.
While the programme, referred to as the 100 per cent transition to high schools which has been facing myriad of challenges, is now a success to the implementers.
Isaac Atebe, the Kisumu County Director of Education has hailed the initiative saying, “Every child is entitled to access free education as stipulated in the constitution. No child deserves to be denied this right.”
According to Atebe, 32,876 candidates sat for 2020 KCPE examinations across sub-counties in Kisumu though heads of secondary schools in the county expected about 37,000 students meaning, the slots were more than enough to even cater for students from neighbouring counties.
The county education boss said through government funding, 224 secondary and primary classrooms were built in various sub-counties in Kisumu during the 2019- 2020 financial year besides 576 toilets.
“Additionally, every student in a day school is awarded Sh5000 by the national government for infrastructure development while their counterparts in boarding schools receive Sh22, 244 for the same and other needs. When the government launched 100 per cent transition, it put enough measures to back it up. For instance, last week Maseno School was awarded Sh5 million for infrastructure development and purchase of learning material.” Said Mr. Atebe.
