Learners troop back to class this morning for a brief year
The 2022 school calendar starts today, with teachers and learners expected to put their best foot forward to cover as much syllabus as possible within the short period.
This academic year will be one of the shortest ever. Unlike the 2021 calendar, which had about 30 weeks, students will be expected to cover the curriculum in just about 26 weeks.
To cover the syllabus, especially for the 2022 Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) and Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) exam classes calls for teachers to develop an elaborate schedule.
Also for the first time, the pioneer Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC) Grade Six class will be sitting their Junior Secondary School (JSS) entry exam in December.
Education Cabinet Secretary George Magoha has said the roll-out of CBC is on course. “After schools re-open, we shall have more than nine million children learning under the CBC curriculum,” said the CS when he released the 2021 KCSE results on Saturday.
According to the revised calendar developed to cover the nine-month break brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020, Term One commences on April 25 and ends on July 1.
Despite the term being short, there will still be a half-term break of three days from May 26 to 29. Learners will then break for a week-long holiday from July 2 to 10 and resume studies for second term on July 11.
There will also be a mid-term break on August 11 to 14 while the second holiday for learners will be from September 17 to 25. Term Three will begin on September 26 and end on November 25.
Capitation funds
This will then pave way for KCPE exam, which will run from November 28 to December 1 while the KCSE exam will run from December 1 to 23.
Education PS Julius Jwan has asked principals of secondary schools to be lenient to students whose parents do not have the required amount of money for boarding.
“They should agree with parents on how they pay fees balances on schedule,” said Jwan during release of the 2021 KCSE exam results on Saturday.
Last week, the government said it had released Sh16 billion-capitation money for secondary schools. Another Sh2 billion will be sent to primary schools.
“The government has released Sh16 billion for secondary schools for next term, this is a week before reopening and over Sh2 billion for public primary schools. There will be circulars explaining how those monies will be used,” said Jwan.
National exams
The PS cautioned school administrators against misappropriating public funds, saying principals must be held accountable. “Let us account for the money we have,” he said.
Kenya Secondary Schools Heads Association chairman Kahi Imdimuli has called on the government to increase capitation to meet the rising cost of living.
“Infrastructure development cannot be factored in capitation, so the government should rethink this matter. The money is very little compared to the work it is supposed to do,” said Indimuli.
Also with the reopening, schools will be expected to immediately start registration of candidates for national exams.
Kenya National Examination Council (KNEC) Chief Executive Officer David Njengere has said that registration of the 2022 Grade Six, KCPE and KCSE examinations is scheduled for April 27 to May 14.
“Heads of institutions are requested to ensure that all candidates are registered before closure of the registration period. KNEC will not have late registration; hence parents and guardians must work closely with heads of institutions to ensure that all eligible learners are registered,” said Njengere.
He said KNEC would tomorrow meet with all sub-county Directors of Education in Nairobi to brief them on the registration process.
About one million learners are expected to join Form One next week.
