By Lauryne Akoth
Dr. Isaac Mwaura, the Government Spokesperson, has reaffirmed the government’s dedication to ensuring a 100% transition of learners from primary to post-primary levels.
Currently, 58,429 out of the 1,406,557 pupils who took the Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) last year are yet to enrol in Form One.
Speaking during a press briefing at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC) in Nairobi, Dr Mwaura reiterated that those who have joined form one correspond to a 96 per cent transition rate.
“We have mobilized concerted efforts of the National Government Administrative Officers (NGAOs) that is, County Commissioners, Deputy County Commissioners, Assistant County Commissioners, Chiefs, and their Assistants in tracking all the remaining 2023 KCPE candidates, to ensure that no one is left behind,” he assured.
He further stated that the government has also provided bursaries to facilitate learners from underprivileged backgrounds through the National Government Constituency Development Fund (NGCDF) and the Elimu Scholarship program, whose objective is to ensure there is full transition from primary to secondary schools.
This year alone, the government has provided sponsorship to 14,426 children nationwide under the program.
While he cautioned parents who refuse to take their children to school, as being liable to prosecution, following the Children’s Act, Dr Mwaura, revealed that there is also an enhanced mop-up exercise, where education directors are currently working with field officers, to make sure that the remnants are taken to nearby schools including those who were admitted to boarding schools, but their parents lacked money for upkeep.
He nevertheless advised those who did not wish to continue with Secondary Education to join the public vocational training centres, which are now under the County Governments.
“We have a total of 1,120 vocational training centres, with 1,022 being public and 98 being private establishments, distributed throughout the country,” he declared, emphasizing that these centres were formerly known as youth or village polytechnics.
Additionally, Dr Mwaura stressed the digitization of the entire education system, spanning from basic education to tertiary and university levels which were sanctioned by the cabinet on 14th February 2024 in keeping up with the administration’s digital transformation Agenda.
This intervention, according to the Government Spokesperson, aims to address the governance challenges within our education system that have led to parallel accounts, charging of unauthorized school fees, diversion of the exchequer releases on capitation, and other fraudulent activities that undermine the integrity of the education system, leading to the enrolment of ghost students.