Strict Requirements For Schools Before Junior Secondary Admission

The Ministry made a number of demands on schools, including ones relating to facilities, student enrollment, and personnel resources.

Among the requirements, schools in urban and crowded areas must reach a minimum enrollment of 45 students in order to avoid being merged.

"Primary schools with an enrolment of fewer than 45 learners will serve as feeder schools to other JSSs within a two-kilometer proximity," the circular reads in part.

Schools will have to demonstrate during the review that they have the necessary number of qualified teachers, with a maximum education level of a diploma.

Additionally, teachers would be required to show that they can instruct the new courses under the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC).

All junior high schools are required to have a laboratory for the Integrated Science topic due to the practical nature of CBC.

Furthermore, the Ministry demands that schools have two extra classes for junior high schools, proper sanitation, hygienic food handling, and adequate playgrounds.

The new rules are applicable to both private and public primary schools.

President William Ruto in a joint media interview on January 4, listed a number of measures to guarantee that the schools are ready to welcome students in Grade Seven.

Ruto noted that institutions with additional classes could turn some of them into laboratories and also suggested that neighboring schools can share some of the amenities.