Construction of 16,000 Classroom for JSS Kicks Off

Construction of 16,000 Classroom for JSS Kicks Off

The construction of 9,000 classrooms for Grade Nine learners has begun, with the government mandating that schools use the allocated funds exclusively for this purpose.

Each classroom is estimated to cost Sh1 million, resulting in a total project cost of Sh9 billion.

Dr. Belio Kipsang, the Principal Secretary for Basic Education, stated that the government is implementing the Kenya Primary Education Equity in Learning (KPEEL) program. This program aims to reduce regional disparities in learning outcomes, improve the retention of girls in upper primary levels, and strengthen systems for delivering equitable education outcomes.

These details are outlined in a circular by Kipsang dated June 13, addressed to Regional, County, and Sub-County Directors of Education. According to Kipsang, all learning institutions hosting junior secondary school sections will be allocated classrooms based on their enrollment.

The Ministry has issued guidelines for constructing these classrooms. Kipsang mentioned that the program would involve building new classrooms in both refugee host communities and non-refugee/non-host communities within existing schools.

“The funds intended for constructing Grade 9 classrooms and Integrated Learning Resource Centres shall not be used for any other purpose,” Kipsang emphasized.

The first phase of construction will be funded by the World Bank, as the pioneer Competency-Based Education (CBE) cohort, now in Grade 8, prepares to transition to Grade 9 next year. The government aims to construct at least 16,000 classrooms for Grade 9 by January, with 9,000 funded by the World Bank at a cost of Sh9 billion.

Additional classrooms will be built under the National Government Constituency Development Fund (NG-CDF), managed by Members of the National Assembly. These will be constructed in accordance with the 2021 School Infrastructure Investment Plan (SIIP) and established classroom construction standards.

To ensure timely completion and efficiency, beneficiary schools must open a specific project account with signatories, including the Chairpersons of the Board of Management (BoM), the Junior School Committee, the Parents Association, and the headteacher. The headteacher is a mandatory signatory to the account and must acknowledge receipt of the funds.

Construction must be completed within three months from the contract signing date. The guidelines also stipulate that the infrastructure budget must be approved by the BoM.

Payments will only be made for completed work within the Costed Bill of Quantities (BQs), and no certificates will be issued beyond the actual work done. Schools cannot make any variations without explicit authority from the Principal Secretary, State Department for Basic Education.

Schools must adhere to the designs and BQs provided by the Ministry, ensuring that materials meet the specified quality standards. Financial and accounting documents must be well-supported, including payment vouchers, invoices, cash sale vouchers, summaries of receipts and expenditures, bank statements, and minutes of board and SIC meetings.

The head of the institution must comply with the Public Procurement and Assets Disposal Act, 2015, and ensure that the classrooms are accessible to persons with disabilities. Stakeholder consultations should be conducted during various construction phases.

Environmental and social safeguards management should be properly designed to manage risks and improve the project’s environmental and social performance, including child protection, learner safety, and waste management.

The projects will be coordinated and implemented at various levels: national, regional (supervised by Regional Directors of Education), county (overseen by County Directors of Education), sub-county (managed by Sub-County Directors of Education), and school levels (under the guidance of SCDEs).

Construction of 16,000 Classroom for JSS Kicks Off