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Schools with low enrolment will be closed down, says PS
Education Principal Secretary Belio Kipsang. He said the ban arose from a recommendation by the Task Force on Secondary School Fees chaired by former Education Assistant Minister Kilemi Mwiria. FILE PHOTO | LABAN WALLOGA
What you need to know:
- A task force chaired by Dr Kilemi Mwira proposed, in a report handed to the government recently, that a class should have at least 32 students.
- A boarding school must have a minimum of three streams with at least 25 students per class, while a day school will have two streams with at least 45 students per class.
Public primary and secondary schools with fewer students and teachers than recommended will be closed down or merged with others to optimise resource use.
Education Principal Secretary Belio Kipsang says a school must have a minimum teacher-student ratio for it to remain in operation.
“We are organising schools to boost quality learning. This will include merging schools with fewer students with others because they are not sustainable,” the PS told a conference of principals of teacher training colleges in Mombasa Thursday.
A task force chaired by Dr Kilemi Mwira proposed, in a report handed to the government recently, that a class should have at least 32 students.
“It is unrealistic to have schools which are neighbouring one another, each with a principal, a deputy and teachers yet have very few students. We will be wasting resources,” Dr Kipsang said.
NEEDS ASSESSMENT
“The government wants to optimise the teachers we have and that is why we don’t see sense in having a school with, lets say, 60 students and with so many teachers, yet other schools have a shortage of teachers. Also, we don’t want to have classrooms with no students in school when other schools can utilise them” the PS said.
A boarding school must have a minimum of three streams with at least 25 students per class, while a day school will have two streams with at least 45 students per class.
Dr Kipsang said the ministry will soon begin mapping out schools to establish student population against the number of teachers.
“In January and February next year, we shall conduct a needs assessment to establish the type of curriculum that is most appropriate for us. We will consider how long we want our children to be in primary and secondary schools, as well as in the university,” the PS said.
Parents will also have a chance to say what they want their children taught in terms of knowledge and skills, Dr Kipsang said.
“We have already prepared questionnaires to be used during the survey that will also involve schools and communities and all other stakeholders,” the PS said.
REFORMS
Boarding and day facilities to comply
A boarding school must have a minimum of three streams with at least 25 students per class while a day school will have two streams with a minimum of 45 students per class.
A school that do not meet the number will either be closed down or merged with others.
