The Cabinet now says learners transitioning to Junior Secondary School (JSS) are allowed to use their old schools’ uniforms.
This, they agreed during a meeting chaired by President William Ruto on Tuesday, February 28 at State House Nairobi.
According to the Cabinet Secretaries, no pupil should be sent back home for lack of new school uniforms.
“Cabinet considered the progress being made in the implementation of the transition to Junior Secondary School, which is part of the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC).
“The Cabinet directed to foster equal opportunity for all our nation’s children, even where the transition to Junior Secondary School may warrant a change of uniform, no student should be turned away from school for lack of school uniform so long as they are kitted in their primary school uniforms,” part of the statement reads.
MPs want CBC scrapped
This comes even as several Members of the National Assembly demand the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC) be scrapped, citing costs and poor preparation.
Lawmakers from both sides of the divide united in demanding that the government abolishes the new system, saying it is too expensive.
But Education committee chairperson Julius Melly (Tinderet) defended the curriculum saying the challenges being experienced were not new as the same was witnessed during the transition to the 8-4-4 system.
“I remember when 8-4-4 was started in 1984/1985 Kenyans were up in arms and wanted us to go back to the old system. The issue that I know is of contention is the issue of teaching staff which we need to address,” he said.
While contributing to an adjournment motion by Homa Bay Town MP Peter Kaluma, the lawmakers said the system had created confusion in the education sector.
Kaluma singled out the Junior Secondary School (JSS) saying the transition from primary to secondary school was not well thought out.
MPs claimed they were being forced to carry the burden of footing the bills occasioned by the curriculum as they are required to buy books, and uniforms and pay for school for some of the learners.
“I am here to plead with this House that we stop this CBC so that we continue with the education that is meaningful to our children. What is happening now is that this system is for the rich as only those with money are able to take their children to private schools,” said Kaluma.
Kaluma said that in Homa Bay, JSSs had been allocated one teacher who is required to teach more than 14 subjects.
