Parents will be obliged to buy a new set of clothes for their secondary school children when schools reopen in two weeks, according to new draft guidelines released by the government.
At least 1.2 million students are due to start secondary school. Secondary schools will also have independent governing boards to oversee the institution’s operations and financial management. During the transition period, the principal of the elementary school will become the principal of the junior high school.
The specifications are included in the draft Intermediate Transition Guidelines. According to the Sunday Standard, the government will ensure that the two levels of education are different, although middle school and high school will be placed in primary school.
“It’s a delicate balance because parents will buy the clothes. But at the same time, because of the 100 percent pass policy, no child misses high school because of the uniform,” he said.
The elementary school teacher will be the head of the junior high school until the end of the school year. The school principal will also be the secretary of the junior high school board and supervise the financial management of the high school wing.
High school students will receive government records for each child, just like other high school students currently receive. A middle school board will be different from an elementary school board. The details come as parents and teachers worry more about sixth-graders transitioning to junior high two weeks before school resumes on Jan. 23.
Pay close attention to the readiness of the laboratory for use by junior high school students. President Ruto announced last week that some of these facilities could be shared with neighboring schools once the development plan is complete.
On the other hand, more details on the regulations were revealed on January 4 at a stakeholders meeting chaired by Secretary to the Minister of Education Ezekiel Machgun (KICD) at the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development. Mr. Machgu formed a multi-agency committee to prepare the guidelines.