KESSHA Demands Grade 8&9 Domiciled In Secondary Schools

KESSHA Demands Grade 8&9 Domiciled In Secondary Schools

The Kenya Secondary Schools Heads Association (KESSHA) is advocating for the Ministry of Education to transfer Grade 8 and 9 learners to secondary schools due to the lack of resources in primary schools.

On Thursday, KESSHA chairman Willy Kuria pledged to engage the government in discussions to have Grades 8 and 9 moved to secondary schools.

Currently, Junior Secondary School (JSS) for Grades 7 to 9 is housed in primary schools.

Speaking on Thursday at Murang’a High School, Kuria stated, “As secondary school heads, we had proposed this arrangement and we still support it. We believe part of the JSS classes should be in secondary schools and another part in primary schools.”

Kuria explained that the school heads want Grade 7 to remain in primary schools, while Grades 8 and 9 should be housed in secondary schools. He argued that secondary schools are better equipped with resources such as empty classrooms, laboratories, and teachers to meet the needs of the learners.

The government has promised to construct 16,000 classrooms to accommodate Grade 9 in primary schools by 2025, but construction has not yet begun.

Additionally, Kuria expressed concerns that keeping JSS in primary schools would mean learners stay in the same institution for up to 11 years. “With 11 years in primary and only three in secondary school, we are doubtful that these students will be well-prepared to join university,” he said.

“We fear that three years is too short a period. During our time, we spent six years in high school and seven years in primary school. This longer duration better prepared students for university,” Kuria added.

In his view, 11 years in primary school would not support the child’s development effectively.

Furthermore, Kuria urged the government to ensure timely disbursement of capitation funds to secondary schools. He highlighted that delays in funding impede the smooth operation of schools.

Currently, students are in their second term, which will end on August 5.

Kuria pointed out that schools have so far received about Sh10,400 out of the Sh22,244 allocated per student annually, which he said is insufficient to sustain them.

“We want the full capitation to be directed to schools so that we can continue to advance our activities regarding tuition and operational accounts,” he emphasized.

KESSHA Demands Grade 8&9 Domiciled In Secondary Schools