More than 10,000 Junior Secondary Schools (JSSs) across the country will receive interactive smart boards in the first phase of the government’s digital learning programme aimed at strengthening the implementation of the Competency-Based Education (CBE) curriculum.
Basic Education Principal Secretary (PS) John Ololtuaa announced that 10,382 junior secondary schools will benefit from the initial phase, with the remaining schools to be covered in the second phase, bringing the total target to more than 21,000 JSSs nationwide.
Speaking during a courtesy visit at Hill School Senior School in Eldoret, Uasin Gishu County, on Monday, the PS said the digital infrastructure initiative is part of the government’s commitment to modernizing teaching and learning in public schools.
“We’re also looking at all junior secondary schools. Some 10,382 of them across the country will receive smart boards in Phase One. In Phase Two, the remaining schools will also benefit,” he assured.
He said the government was keen on ensuring the successful implementation of the Competency-Based Education system by investing in digital learning infrastructure and other critical education resources.
“The Government of Kenya, through the Ministry of Education, is very keen to ensure that the Competency-Based Education is implemented accordingly, and the processes to implement it are going on in the best way possible,” said the PS.
Ololtuaa also stated that the Ministry had received numerous requests from schools across the country and would assess them based on priority and available resources. “I have already received a list of the projects you have requested. We will sit together with the school leadership and agree on the priority areas because we are serving the whole country,” he said.
The PS further encouraged learners to remain focused on their academic goals, urging them to dream big, believe in their abilities and guard against negative influences that could derail their ambitions.
He cautioned students against laziness, drug abuse, peer pressure and other vices, describing them as “dream killers” that could prevent them from achieving their full potential.
Also present were Tourism Principal Secretary Prof. Julius Bitok, Kesses Member of Parliament Julius Rutto, regional and county education officials, Uasin Gishu education union leaders, the Hill School management, and other officials.
By Fredrick Maritim
