President Ruto’s Education Investment: Transforming JSS Infrastructure
President Ruto’s Education Investment: Transforming JSS Infrastructure. During the 60th anniversary of Jamhuri Day at Uhuru Garden in Nairobi. President Ruto made a commitment to allocate funds for constructing classrooms and infrastructure for Junior Secondary Schools (JSS). This pledge comes in response to criticism surrounding the JSS rollout. With skeptics emphasizing the urgent need to address both insufficient infrastructure and manpower.
Akelo Misori, the Secretary-General of the Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers, pointed out the inaccuracy of housing JSS in primary schools and highlighted a year-long lack of proper learning in JSS. In addition, President Ruto announced an increase in school funding.
President Ruto underscored the government’s acknowledgment of the crucial role that investing in learning, training, and education plays. The substantial additional allocation of Sh127 billion to the education sector reflects this commitment to developing essential human capital for the economy.
The Ministry of Education recently revealed a Sh3.9 billion earmark for constructing 15,021 JSS classrooms by 2025. Furthermore, Education Cabinet Secretary Ezekiel Machogu announced a Sh9 billion contribution from the World Bank for building an additional 9,000 classrooms.
In January 2024, the first class of the Competency-Based Curriculum is set to reach Grade 8. Dr. Ruto expressed intentions to address Nairobi County’s chronic classroom shortage by constructing an additional 3,500 classrooms. He reaffirmed the government’s dedication to collaborating with all Members of Parliament to ensure high-quality education for every child in Nairobi.
Emphasizing that substantial investments in education are pivotal. The president highlighted their critical role in developing the human resources necessary for driving economic prosperity.