This archive report was first published on 4 January 2020.
With schools set to reopen on Monday, concerns are growing over whether teachers are prepared to take on Grade Four pupils under the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC).
Although thousands of teachers have undergone training, there are fears that many are not adequately equipped to handle the new curriculum.
The Ministry of Education has been racing against time to train teachers, with a two-day training session for 106,000 primary school teachers commencing on Thursday.
According to Cabinet Secretary George Magoha, a total of 228,000 teachers have been trained since the introduction of the CBC, with 91,320 trained in April for grades one to three and 68,490 in August for the CBC.
Magoha assured that the ministry has distributed 98.8% of textbooks and will ensure that all schools receive the books by Monday.
However, he acknowledged that some areas, such as West Pokot, have faced challenges due to a collapsed bridge, but the government has provided resources, including standby helicopters, to ensure that books reach schools.
Seven publishers have been contracted to supply 14.4 million books to schools.
Magoha also issued a stern warning to school heads against increasing school fees, stating that any head teacher who does so will face the full force of the law.
He disputed claims that he had changed the school fees policy and increased fees, stating that he had not altered any policy regarding school fees.
The government introduced free secondary school education in 2018, with learners receiving Sh22,244 per annum, and parents not required to pay any extra fees for day scholars.
For category A schools, the government will provide Sh22,244 while parents will pay Sh53,554, totalling Sh75,798 per year.
Category B boarding schools and extra-county schools in other areas will receive Sh22,244 from the government while parents will pay Sh40,535, making the total school fees per year Sh62,779.
The government has also increased the Special Needs Secondary Education funds to Sh57,974 while parents will be required to pay Sh12,790.
