Nyandarua: The transition of Grade 10 learners to senior school in Nyandarua County currently stands at 88.3 percent. The county Director of Education, Lucy Mutai, highlighted the ongoing efforts to locate local learners who have yet to enroll in a higher class, with the current mop-up exercise successfully tracing 400 learners.
According to Kenya News Agency, about 1000 learners in the county remain unaccounted for. Efforts are underway in collaboration with National Government Administrative Officers (NGAOs) to trace these students. A significant concern raised by Mutai is the dropout rate among learners, primarily due to employment in potato farms, early marriages, and teenage pregnancies.
The Director emphasized the need for a collective effort from all stakeholders to address these issues, aiming not only for a 100 percent transition rate but also for improved retention. During a workshop on Monitoring, Evaluation, and Tracking of National Government Programmes and Presidential Directives, Mutai urged the government to expedite internet connectivity in schools. This initiative would enhance service delivery and expose learners to the digital space.
Nyandarua County Commissioner, Abdirisack Jaldesa, acknowledged the efforts by the Ministry of Education and the local administration in pushing for full transition. He instructed area chiefs and their assistants to visit junior schools and identify learners who have yet to progress to higher learning. The two-day sensitization forum, concluding on Saturday, has gathered national government administrative officers and other agencies involved in implementing the Bottom-up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA).
