With less than a month to go, many schools are ill-prepared to welcome Grade 9 learners on January 6, 2025, the Nation 's spot checks across the country have revealed.
While the construction of classrooms to accommodate the pioneer learners under the Competency Based Curriculum (CBC) is underway in some schools, the project has not started in others and is behind schedule in some.
Principals who spoke to the Nation also reported delays by the government in releasing funds for the project.
Concerns were also raised about shoddy workmanship, as contractors are working on tight budgets - in some cases with no money at all - and racing against time.
Equally worrying is the staffing of the junior school section, which will have three classes from January.
The section has been understaffed since the start of junior school in 2023, and the recruitment of 46,000 teachers has not solved the problem as teachers have only been converted from contract to permanent status.
In Laikipia County, the construction of classrooms in 147 schools has yet to commence as head teachers wait for the government to release funds for the project.
Data from the Office of the County Director of Education shows that only 33 classrooms have been completed.
Each classroom was budgeted at Sh1 million. This is an increase from the Sh880,000 allocated when the government undertook a similar project in 2021 and 2023.
Laikipia County Deputy Director of Education Felix Hamadi confirmed that phase one of the project comprised 31 classrooms, of which 22 are almost complete while nine are still under construction.
Phase two of the project targeted 75 classrooms, 14 of which are almost complete, while the rest are at various stages of construction, eight of which have just finished laying foundations.
"We have submitted the list of the 147 schools and are now waiting for the funds from the Ministry of Education headquarters. However, all the schools have already been allocated funds for desks," said Dr Hamadi.
The National Government Constituency Development Fund (NG-CDF) had promised to construct classrooms in 28 schools, but work has yet to start in eight schools. 11 classrooms have been completed, while the rest are in various stages of construction.
"This is a dire situation that needs urgent government intervention as the opening date is fast approaching," said Anthony Mathenge, the Kenya National Union of Teachers (Knut) assistant secretary.
Mr Mathenge, a teacher at Nkando Primary School in Nanyuki town, said the school had not been allocated the construction funds.
In Mathira constituency, Nyeri County, most schools have started construction of classrooms. Construction is ongoing at Karatina DEB and Kirigu schools. According to some site supervisors, construction is currently 70 per cent complete.
"Construction is going on as planned, we are now at about 70 per cent and we are sure that the remaining 30 per cent will be completed and ready for occupancy by January next year," said Patrick Korabu, a supervisor.
In the North Rift region, the construction of classrooms is ongoing in most counties, with school administrators blaming inadequate funding for delays in completing the projects.
In some of the schools visited by the Nation , there are either no classrooms to accommodate Grade 9 learners or the construction is poor.
At Miskwony Primary School in Kapenguria Constituency, West Pokot Sub County, the head teacher, Mr James Matolo, revealed that they had not received the funds for the project.
"We have 400 learners, 30 of whom will be in Grade 9, but there are only two teachers [for the junior school]," said Mr Matolo.
At Muinoi Primary School in Kacheliba Constituency, head teacher Julius Kariuki said the school had received Sh2 million to construct classrooms.
The school has 194 learners, of whom 11 will be in Grade 9 next year.
"We don't have a laboratory and we are forced to go to nearby secondary schools like St Ann's and Kiwawa Boys for practical training," he said.
At Kitale School in Trans Nzoia County, seven classrooms are under construction to accommodate 420 Grade 9 learners next year.
Deputy headteacher Paul Eseme said construction of the classrooms was more than 40 percent complete, with the contractor expected to hand over the project on January 6, 2025, and that the school had received 266 textbooks for each subject.
Chetoto Primary School has one teacher for Grade 9. However, progress on the construction of a classroom for the pupils has been slow.
"We are closely monitoring the construction of classrooms throughout the county to ensure they are completed on time before schools open in January. This is a directive from the Ministry of Education," said Trans Nzoia County Commissioner Gideon Oyagi.
The situation is similar in Uasin Gishu, Nandi and Elgeyo Marakwet counties, where classrooms to accommodate Grade 9 learners are either incomplete or have yet to be started.
In the Coast region, schools visited by the Nation team were at an advanced stage of completing the construction of new classrooms.
"I cannot complain because the money came on time for us. For the first time, the government told us they were sending money for classrooms and by October, we were ready," said Ms Nurea Huka, the headmistress of Concordia Comprehensive School in Mombasa County.
"I can assure our parents that we are ready for class. We have two new teachers and we have enough staff who will help teach the Grade 9 class," added Ms Huka.
At Mtopanga Comprehensive School in the same county, the new classrooms are under construction.
"We are not yet done with the classrooms but we are working day and night to ensure that they are completed by Christmas as the funds are already with us," said head teacher Evans Mwachia.
He said four new teachers had been assigned to the school, an improvement on previous times when only one teacher was assigned to the junior school.
In Kwale County, the construction of laboratories at Mwakwigwena Primary School in Ukunda continued. Four newly constructed classrooms were fitted with glass windows and metal doors.
The head teacher of Mwakwigwena Primary School said the school had four junior classrooms and that textbooks had been delivered to the school.
A section of the three Grade 9 classrooms built at Lake Kenyatta Comprehensive School in Mpeketoni, Lamu West.
Photo credit: Kalume Kazungu | Nation
In Lamu County, some of the contractors interviewed on condition of anonymity for fear of intimidation said that although the work was nearing completion, it was behind schedule due to insufficient funds initially disbursed.
"We would have finished the work a long time ago, but we had to stop last month because there were no funds. We had to wait for the funds to be released before we resumed work," said the contractor.
At Lake Kenyatta Comprehensive School in Mpeketoni, three new Grade 9 classrooms were completed and handed over to the school.
Head teacher Joseph Agutu said that a total of 226 students will be entering Grade 9 next year, but the classrooms will not be enough to accommodate them all.
At Sikomani Comprehensive School, also in Mpeketoni, the final touches were being put on the two new Grade 9 classrooms, including electricity connections.
Lamu County Education Director Zachary Mutuiri said the construction of 31 Grade 9 classrooms had been completed and handed over to various institutions in both Lamu West and East sub-counties in the first phase.
Mr Mutuiri said in the second phase, 39 more Grade 9 classrooms are expected to be handed over before the end of next month.
He noted that there have been some delays in the construction and completion of classrooms in certain places in Lamu such as Kiunga and Boni Forest where the transport of building materials by the contractors concerned has been a bit challenging.
A section of the two Grade 9 classrooms at Sikomani Comprehensive School in Lamu West, where construction is still ongoing and 95% complete. The classrooms are expected to be handed over by December 16, 2024.
Photo credit: Kalume Kazungu | Nation
In Taita Taveta County, a spot check of some schools in Voi revealed that the construction of Grade Nine classes is ongoing.
Construction of classrooms is ongoing at Mwamunga, Mwanyambo and Voi primary schools in Voi sub-county.
"Majority of the comprehensive schools (with JS section) do not have enough teachers to cater for the high number of learners, hence the need for the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) to recruit more teachers to bridge the gap in the pupil-teacher ratio," Mr Bett said.
At Chepngaina Comprehensive Primary School in Bomet Central Constituency, there are four TSC teachers against a requirement of eight to teach the 170 learners in the JS section.
The school has also received an allocation for infrastructure development and will have to build a temporary classroom to accommodate Grade 9 learners.
In Samburu County, Maralal DEB Primary School, one of the largest schools in the region, exemplifies the struggles faced by institutions in pastoralist areas.
Designed to accommodate 366 Grade 9 students, the school lacks critical resources, including classrooms, teachers and learning materials. The school has only three Grade 9 teachers and needs at least six additional tutors. It also needs seven new classrooms.
In Nyandarua County, Umoja Mbuyu Primary School board member Peter Kuhungi painted a grim picture of the situation.
"We are one classroom short. Only one classroom was constructed by the area MP George Gachagua to ease overcrowding in grades five and six. Grades five and six, where learners share one class. The closest school the pupils could go to is Kagondo Primary School, about ten kilometres away, but it is also overcrowded and no additional classrooms are being built," said Mr Kihungi.
Mr Michael Mukuru, a parent at Muthiga Primary School, echoed similar sentiments, saying the school was short of classrooms.
"We are not sure if the classrooms will be constructed on time," the parent said.Reported by Mwangi Ndirangu, Stephen Munyiri, Oscar Kakai, Evans Jaola, Barnabas Bii, By Jurgen Nambeka, Siago Cece, Kalume Kazungu, Lucy Mkanyika, Vitalis Kimutai, Geoffrey Ondieki and Waikwa Maina
