Grade Seven students under the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC) will from January be required to be day scholars.
Speaking to the press, the technical adviser to the Principal Secretary on CBC matters Ruth Mugambi said that learners will be assigned to junior high schools based on their proximity to their former primary school, topic selection and performance in primary school, according to the State department in charge of CBC implementation.
“Posting of learners to junior high will be informed by the capability of parents to transport a child to the school they have chosen,” Mugambi said.
This is the clearest hint yet that the government will allow day schoolers to attend residential schools in order to accommodate junior secondary students.
Additionally, it indicates that instead of competing for limited spots at key institutions, students will attend their local neighbouring schools.
Elementary education is separated into two years of pre-primary and six years of primary school under CBC. Junior secondary school runs from Grade 7 through Grade 9.
Home Science, Computer Studies, Art, Foreign Languages, Kenyan Sign Language and Indigenous Languages will be required of students in junior secondary school.
Secondary schools must provide at least three of the optional topics, according to the government. This choice of optional topics will be used to determine where a child will be assigned to secondary school.
The junior secondary will be housed in existing secondary schools rather than elementary schools, with secondary school teachers providing instruction.
In preparation for the launch of junior secondary in 2023, the government plans to increase CBC infrastructure by adding 10,000 classrooms at a cost of Sh8 billion.
