Garissa leaders urge government to step up CBC transition plans for Grade 10 learners

Garissa Township MP Dekow Mohamed and other stakeholders hold a dummy cheque of Sh62 million/STEPHEN ASTARIKO

Garissa Township MP Dekow Mohamed and other stakeholders hold a dummy cheque of Sh62 million./STEPHEN ASTARIKO

Leaders in Garissa County have called on the Ministry of Education to ensure a smooth transition for learners moving from Grade 9 to Grade 10 next year, warning that last-minute preparations could derail the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC) rollout.

Senior school, covering Grades 10 to 12, is set to begin in January 2026, marking a critical milestone for the pioneer CBC cohort.

However, education stakeholders—including parents, teachers, and religious leaders—are raising concerns over the country’s readiness to accommodate the new system.

Garissa Township MP Dekow Mohamed and Garissa KNUT executive Abdirizack Hussein voiced their concerns on Saturday during a Sh62 million NG-CDF bursary disbursement event in Garissa town.

Dekow emphasized that education is too crucial to be handled haphazardly.

“We want the Ministry of Education to be responsible. We’ve had seven years to prepare for this transition, yet it seems little is in place,” Dekow said.

“We expect all public schools to have adequate infrastructure in six months for a seamless transition.”

Abdirizack echoed this sentiment, saying the government must expedite preparations to avoid challenges for the Grade 9 learners moving to Grade 10.

The Garissa Township Sub-county Director of Education, Rashid Muktar, sought to reassure stakeholders. He confirmed that preparations are underway, including the development of curricula and the retooling of teachers.

“The Ministry has put everything in place. The materials for Grade 10 learning will be available by August,” Muktar said. “We’ve assessed schools, retooled teachers, and prepared textbooks.”

The ministry has also issued guidelines for senior school placement.

These guidelines cover academic pathways—including STEM, Arts & Sports, and Social Sciences—as well as accommodation options, gender-based school categories, and special needs programs.

Despite these assurances, leaders like Dekow and Abdirizack insist that more visible and decisive action is needed to avoid confusion and ensure the CBC transition’s success.