High number of KCPE Candidates Perplex Available Resources
The government has acknowledged that it will face challenges with Form One admissions for KCPE applicants next year. Primary School PS Belio Kipsang has revealed that there is inadequate school infrastructure to accommodate the significantly larger number of students expected. This is due to the fact that there are 280,000 more KCPE candidates this year compared to the previous year.
During their appearance before the National Assembly Education Committee, ministry officials discussed the challenges arising from this situation. Kipsang mentioned budget cuts in various programs that were aimed at improving school infrastructure, including a reduction of Sh3.34 billion under the Junior Secondary School Improvement Program, another Sh1 billion under the Secondary School Infrastructure Improvement Program, and Sh138 million under the Primary School Infrastructure Improvement Program.
While the government aims to enhance the learning environment by improving infrastructure to boost enrollment, the budget constraints are impacting these plans. The ministry had also planned to address the incoming second class by improving infrastructure in Junior Secondary Schools, particularly in Nairobi County, where there is a shortage of classrooms at the primary school level. Building 5,000 classrooms across 17 sub-constituencies over a three-year period is urgently required to address these deficiencies.
High number of KCPE Candidates Perplex Available Resources
Enrollment in public secondary schools is expected to rise from 3,858,836 to 4,253,155 next year due to the transition of this year’s KCPE candidates. Junior Secondary School enrollment is also predicted to increase from 1,081,887 to 2,170,429 students, requiring the construction of 3,000 additional classrooms at a cost of Sh3.3 billion, with funds transferred to the Constituency Development Fund.
Committee chairman Julius Melly questioned whether the surge in enrollment was linked to students attempting to avoid the challenges associated with the CBC curriculum. He also asked if some students originally designated to enter Grade Seven chose to register for the KCPE to bypass transitional difficulties.
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Kenya National Examination Council CEO David Njeng’ere explained that many students who had dropped out of school returned to take exams since this is the final examination under the 8-4-4 system. Kipsang added that this approach is a way to reduce illiteracy in the country, with some learners returning to school to enhance their academic qualifications in response to changing life demands.
