‘99% Done.’ Almost all Primary School in Kisumu West Have Grade Nine Classrooms 

Grade nine students in classroom /photo courtesy/

The Kisumu West Sub-County Director of Education, Mary Oichoe, has announced that all public primary schools in the region have successfully constructed Grade Nine classrooms, funded by the Ministry of Education.

In a phone interview with The Nyanza Review on Wednesday, January 8, Oichoe confirmed that the national government had allocated sufficient funds in its education budget to support the construction of these classrooms. This move is part of the government’s commitment to implementing the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC).

“The national government, through the Ministry of Education, disbursed adequate funds to facilitate the construction of Grade Nine classrooms in all public primary schools across the country. This underscores its dedication to ensuring the success of the CBC program,” Oichoe stated.

She further noted that a monitoring and evaluation team from the ministry had visited all public primary schools in Kisumu West to ensure the quality of construction work.

“Based on the monitoring and evaluation report, 99% of the work in all 81 public primary schools in the sub-county is complete. Only a few schools remain in the final stages of construction,” she said.

School heads in Kisumu West have welcomed the initiative, praising the government for providing much-needed infrastructure.

“The two Grade Nine classrooms being built at our school are almost complete. Once finished, they will significantly reduce congestion and improve the learning environment,” said James Kowino, the headteacher of Kotetni Comprehensive School.

However, some parents expressed concerns about the affordability of the CBC system. Speaking anonymously, several parents criticized the high costs associated with CBC, arguing that it places a financial burden on families.

“The CBC is too expensive for many of us. If the costs continue to rise, many students may be forced to drop out of school,” one parent said.

Despite the concerns, the Ministry of Education remains optimistic that the ongoing efforts to improve school infrastructure and implement the CBC system will enhance the quality of education and better prepare students for future challenges.