Teachers and parents in Garissa County have been warned against registering students who are meant to be in grade 7 for the 2023 Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE). 

Garissa Deputy County Commissioner Solomon Chesut said they have received names of several schools culpable of transferring students under CBC to the 8-4-4 curriculum. The said schools are under investigation and those found culpable will be prosecuted.

Speaking at Garissa High School during the unveiling of the beneficiaries of the Elimu scholarship and the Equity Bank’s Wings to fly programmes, Chesut said that there is an upcoming trend from the local primary school teachers who are colliding with parents so that their students are moved from grade six to class eight thus evading the enrolment of the students to junior secondary school as per the CBC outline.

Chesut warned that no one will get away with any unlawful dealings that affect the lives of school going children.

The DCC encouraged the 1,843 students who are benefiting from the Elimu and Wings to fly scholarships in Garissa County this year to use the opportunity to study hard so that they can uplift the lives of their communities once they graduate and get or create jobs.

He further directed all chiefs and their assistants to ensure that there are 100 percent transitions of students in their areas of jurisdiction from Primary to secondary schools.

The remarks came just a day after the regional coordinator for education Yussuf Karayu warned in a circular to county directors of education, school heads against unauthorised registration of grade seven JSS learners as 2023 KCPE candidates.

On his part, Area MP Dekow Mohamed asked the locals to encourage the children to take up teaching courses to bridge the teacher shortage gap in the region.

Equity Banks Shadrack Muithya for Garissa branch called for creation of a directorate to oversee issuance of scholarships and bursaries to ensure that no student receives double scholarship or bursary where there are thousands others who need help.