Nairobi Regional Director of Education Margaret Lesuuda has said the ministry is working to ensure all learners transition to the next level as they finish their primary school exams.
Lesuuda spoke on Wednesday at Joash Olum Primary School in Highrise, Lang'ata where she had gone to encourage the learners as they sit their last KCPE and KPSEA papers.
She said particularly in Nairobi, the ministry is planning to construct up to 5,000 classrooms to accommodate those joining junior secondary schools and those joining form one from 2024 January.
"We are preparing our infrastructure, both in primary and secondary. In Nairobi we are lucky the President has allocated us 5,000 classrooms which we are soon going to start construction," she said.
Lesuuda said there is a need for more classes and expansion of schools due to the challenge of admitting form ones.
She said the classes will be needed by candidates going to junior secondary schools and high schools.
Lesuuda added that Nairobi also has a challenge of inadequate public schools.
"We have only 107 public secondary schools and 209 primary public schools," she said.
"Looking at the enrollment in primary schools which stands at 300,000 learners and about 150 secondary schools, we cannot accommodate all these children in our schools if we go by the 50 or 55 learners per class."
The education director said there are classes with up to 100 learners, thus the need to build more and expand schools.
She said there is an ongoing project at Lenana School to build a primary public school nearby.
As primary school learners finish their national exams, Lesuuda said the county has not experienced any major challenges.
"As Nairobi county, we have had very minimal challenges this year. It has been smooth all over. We have taken care of our learners. Everyone who registered has sat for the exam and even those who are sick got their exams," Lesuuda said.
She noted that 21 candidates are taking their exams at Kenyatta Hospital.
Lesuuda said there are also two other learners admitted to different hospitals within the county.
"The 21 are not just from Nairobi. They are from all over Kenya because you know Kenyatta National Hospital is a referral hospital," Lesuuda said.
"Other than one who delivered in Kibra, we have not had many challenges. The candidate still managed to sit all her exams. We feel this year we have delivered even better than all the other years."
Lesuuda said more than 140,000 learners are sitting for the exams in Nairobi 76,700(KPSEA)and 69,168(KCPE). Nairobi also has 4170 exam centres this year.
Lang'ata Senior Deputy County Commissioner Henry Ochako gave assurance that learners would finish their national exams without any security threats.
"We did a proper deployment to all the 50 exam centres in the subcounty and we have not had any challenges regarding insecurity. We have been going around ensuring all instructions issued by Knec are complied with. The security situation is very well managed," he said.
