MP Shah Chania Boys High School in Kiambu County have received over 600 Grade 10 learners, to mark the start of their senior school journey under the Competency-Based Education (CBE) curriculum, Chief Principal revealed.
This was revealed by the school Chief Principal James Gitau, adding that the students, drawn from different parts of the country, have settled in quickly through orientation sessions and are already preparing to begin learning in their chosen academic pathways.
Speaking during the admission process, Gitau confirmed that the school has already admitted 605 Grade 10 students, saying the school has enough classrooms and facilities to accommodate them comfortably.
“The students are happy, they are coping, very inquisitive, they are different from the IT4 system. And so long as we are ready for them, I think we are good to go,” Gitau said.
Gitau added that the school has taken deliberate steps to ensure teachers are fully prepared for the Grade 10 transition, including additional training beyond what the government offered in December.
“All the heads of departments have been given enhanced training apart from the one that was conducted in December by the government. As a school we have taken initiative. We have looked for people who are more conversant with the CBE,” he said.
He revealed that the school has already appointed a special team to oversee the new Grade 10 class.
“We have already designated a teacher whom we are calling the principal in charge of Grade 10 school with his two deputies. That appointment has already been done,” he said.
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According to Gitau, the school is now finalising its timetable after guiding learners on subject and pathway selection, with lessons expected to begin on Thursday.
“Immediately after we are through with the orientation, we are in the process of now making the timetable… so that from Thursday this week we are going to start lessons,” he said.
Gitau also disclosed that he plans to send teachers to Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (KICD) in Nairobi to present the school’s level of preparedness.
“On that same Thursday I’m dispatching four teachers to KICD in Nairobi so that we can tell them how we have prepared ourselves… because you don’t want to start on a very good footing,” he added.
On reporting, Gitau noted that the school is still receiving calls from parents and guardians, and expects about 40 more students to report on Monday, as some families continue to mobilise resources or seek scholarships.
“Most parents are still calling and they are saying they will still report as they prepare… quite a number, 40 of them, we are expecting that on Monday tomorrow we’ll now have full house,” he said.
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He assured parents that the school will still accept learners even if they report late.
“Anybody who was admitted in Chania High School, even if they do not come on Monday, we will still receive them,” Gitau said.
One of the new learners, Michael Chege, who previously studied at Gatumaini Junior Secondary School, said he was excited to join the institution and was still getting used to the new environment. Chege noted that the orientation programme has helped him adjust and feel comfortable at the school.
His friend, Jack Kanja, a former learner at New Bambini Junior School, said he had chosen the Social Sciences pathway, adding that his dream is to one day become an entrepreneur.
Another student, Newton Mungai, could not hide his excitement after securing a place at the school. The soft-spoken learner said he opted for the STEM pathway, which he believes will help him pursue software engineering at the university level.
“I chose STEM because it will help me in my career. I want to pursue software engineering,” he said.
As the new cohort settles in, students say they are optimistic and ready to embrace the new system, with many already focused on their future careers in fields such as business, engineering and technology.
By Our reporter
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