Beginning in January 2023, the government will abolish boarding primary schools for students in grades 1 through 9.
Parents will have to send their primary school children to day schools, according to the new Basic Education Principal Secretary, Belio Kipsang, who made this announcement on Tuesday.
Overall, this innovative approach will result in students transitioning to junior secondary schools and enrolling in local day schools.
“We must create a way in which we can be with our children and the only way is through day schooling. The first nine years of learning that are Grades 1 to 9, the direction that the government is taking will be day schooling,” Kipsang’ said.
As of right now, the government has mandated that JSS be housed at primary schools, which means that students will continue to attend their current institutions of learning, which must now be day schools.
According to Kipsang, parents have the major obligation as children’s first teachers to accompany their children and make sure they develop the moral values they want them to have.
“We cannot outsource our responsibility as we parents, we only co-parent with teachers but we cannot outsource parenting from the teachers,” Kipsang’ said.
“Going forward, day schooling will be the direction, that’s the only way we shall be able to engage with our children.”
Kipsang revealed the information while speaking on President William Ruto’s behalf at the 18th Kenya Primary School Heads Association (KEPSHA) official inauguration ceremony.
At the Sheikh Zayed Children’s Welfare Center in Mombasa, the primary school heads are meeting for their annual general assembly.
According to Kipsang, with 28% of its children enrolled in boarding schools, Kenya has the largest percentage of boarding school students worldwide.
Against the global rate, which is 15% in the majority of countries, he claimed.
