Public schools in Kilifi and Tana River Counties have continued to record low intakes of students in junior secondary schools compared to private schools.
In Tana River, only 42 percent of candidates who sat their Kenya Primary School Education Assessment (KPSEA) examination have reported to grade seven
Mr Faisal Obbo who is the Tana Delta Sub County director of education said that out of 2,800 pupils who sat the KPSEA examination, only 1,241 had reported to junior secondary schools.
“We still have to make more efforts to take the students to junior school because we still have 58 percent who are still outside school.
Those students should report to school even if they don’t have uniforms,” he said.
Most primary schools that play host to junior secondary schools are still ill-equipped with no science laboratories as required by the syllabus.
However, private schools have recorded one hundred percent transition with stakeholders saying that parents were prepared in advance for the new system.
At AIC Malindi Junior Secondary school which is domiciled at AIC Malindi primary school, all is set and learning activities are ongoing without a hitch.
Mr Steve Oduor who is the head teacher of the school said that parents were prepared on time and that the school does not charge registration fees for students joining junior secondary.
He added that facilities such as the science labs and the computer labs were operational and learning was going on smoothly.
“We are fully prepared as a school and we have received 33 pupils and we have prepared enough room for more enrolments.
We have also hired six more teachers for junior secondary school and we started teaching from day one,” he said.
His sentiments were echoed by the school’s director Mrs Sharon Kirui who said that students in junior secondary school are now used to their new status even though they are being hosted in the same compound as the primary school pupils.
“We have two classrooms which are currently in operation and we have waived the admission school fees.
Garsen MP Ali Wario also cautioned parents against denying their children a chance to go to school and advised them to take their children to junior secondary school and he will provide uniforms.
About the Author
