NAIROBI, Kenya- In a major boost for Kenya’s education infrastructure, a Ministry of Education survey has revealed that the construction of 11,000 classrooms for Junior Secondary Schools will be completed ahead of schedule.
The findings come from a mid-term review of the ongoing construction in 13 counties, including West Pokot, Trans Nzoia, Turkana, and Kajiado, where schools are making significant progress.
According to Dr. Belio Kipsang, Principal Secretary for Basic Education, the overall goal is to construct 16,000 classrooms across the country.
Of these, 11,000 classrooms are being built directly by the Ministry of Education, while the remaining 5,000 will be funded through the National Constituency Development Fund (NG-CDF).
The survey revealed that many schools identified in the first phase of the project are on track to meet, or even surpass, their completion timelines.
Schools in West Pokot, despite facing challenging terrain and long distances to source building materials, have made impressive strides.
The Ministry of Education’s review team, along with development partners, praised the pace of construction but emphasized the importance of maintaining high standards.
Walter Agwaro, a director at the Ministry of Education, urged school heads to address any challenges they face to ensure quality is upheld across the board.
“We are reviewing the work done, but we urge you to share your views and challenges because we need the best in this project,” Agwaro said.
Trans Nzoia County has emerged as one of the top performers in the classroom construction project.
At Namanjalala Primary and Junior School, for instance, construction is nearly complete, with the contractor adding final touches to three Grade 9 classrooms.
With such progress, Kenya’s educational landscape looks set for a significant transformation, as the new classrooms will play a critical role in accommodating the growing number of students in Junior Secondary Schools.
