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NEWS & CURRENT AFFAIRS

The Nairobian

Construction of JSS classrooms starts

Education

By Irene Githinji | Jul 05, 2024

Construction of 9,000 classrooms for Grade Nine learners has kicked off, with the government directing schools to strictly use money allocated for the intended purpose.

Each classroom will be constructed at an estimated cost of Sh1 million. This means that the project will cost some Sh9 billion.

Basic Education Principal Secretary Dr Belio Kipsang said the government is implementing the Kenya Primary Education Equity in Learning (KPEEL) program.

He said the Programme Development Objective (PDOS) is to reduce regional disparities in learning outcomes, improve retention of girls in upper primary level and strengthen systems for delivering equitable education outcomes.

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The details are contained in a circular by Kipsang dated June 13 to Regional, County and Sub-County Directors of Education.

Kipsang said all learning institutions that host junior secondary school section will be allocated classrooms commensurate with their enrollment.

The Ministry has now issued guidelines for construction of the classrooms, with Kipsang saying the program will see construction of new classrooms in refugee host communities and non-refugee/non-host communities in the already existing schools.

“The funds intended for construction of Grade 9 classrooms and Integrated Learning Resource Centres shall not be used for any other purpose,” the PS said.

The first phase of construction will be funded by the World Bank, as the pioneer Competency Based Education (CBE), now in Grade 8, prepare to transition to Grade 9 next year.

The government seeks to construct at least 16,000 classrooms for Grade 9 by January.

Out of these, 9,000 will be funded by the World Bank at a cost of Sh9 billion.

Additional classrooms are to be built under the National Government Constituency Development Fund (NG-CDF) kitty, which is under Members of the National Assembly.

They will be constructed in line with needs-based 2021 School Infrastructure Investment Plan (SIIP) and the established standards for classroom construction.

To ensure timely completion of the project and enhance efficiency, the PS said beneficiary schools will be required to open and operate a specific project account whose signatories includes Chairpersons of Board of Management (BoM), Junior School Committee and Parents Association respectively, as well as the head teacher.

“Any of the three should sign but head teacher is a mandatory signatory to the account. The head of institution will acknowledge receipt of the funds,” the PS directed.

Construction works must be completed within three months with effect from the date of signing the contract.

Similarly, the guidelines state that the infrastructure budget should be approved by Board of Management.

The PS also said payments will only be made for work done and will be within the Costed Bill of Quantities (BQs), adding that no certificate will be issued that supersedes the actual work done.

“The schools will not be allowed to make any variations except under express authority from the Principal Secretary, State Department for Basic Education. Constitute a School Infrastructure Committee (SIC) as a sub-committee of BoM,” the PS told the directors.

Schools are also to adhere to the designs and the Costed Bill of Quantities provided by the Ministry, with the quality of the materials to be used expected to be in line with specifications in the BQs provided.

“Ensure that the financial or accounting documents and summary of transactions for funds received and expenditures relating to the project are well supported. This shall include payment vouchers, invoices, cash sale vouchers, summary of receipts and use of funds, bank statements, minutes of the board and SIC meetings,” the PS said.

The head of the institution must adhere to the Public Procurement and Assets Disposal Act, 2015 and must also ensure that the classrooms are accessible to persons with disabilities.

The head of the institution has been advised to ensure stakeholders consultation is undertaken during various phases of the construction work.

“Environmental and social safeguards management are designed properly to aid in management of risks and improve the project’s environmental and social performance through risk and outcome-based approach. This includes child protection, safety of learners as well as waste management,” Kipsang directed.

Coordination and implementation of the projects will be done at various levels namely national, regional level supervised by Regional Directors of Education (RDES), County level overseen by County Directors of Education (CDEs), Sub County level by Sub County Directors of Education (SCDE) and at the school level SCDEs.