Parents conduct early shopping for their children in Kakamega town on New Year’s Eve. [Photo|Daily Nation]The opening of schools and the implementation of new programmes after two-and-a-half months vacation, the longest ever in the country, are among things that many will be tracking this week.However, what will be of concern to many will be how the government will implement the various programs it has introduced in the education sector and its readiness to avail funds to support the same.Here are some of those programmes that learners will be waking up to.First, the opening of day wings in selected boarding schools. The 19 national schools selected by the ministry for the rolling out of the day wing are also preparing to take in students for the first time in the education sector.Second, the mass transfer of school heads and other teachers. School heads and their deputies who have been transferred from their old stations started reporting to their new stations on Monday, ahead of Tuesday’s re-opening.This is despite the Kenya National Union of Teachers (Knut) having opposed the transfer of teachers terming the move as ill-advised and against the international standards of teaching practices.Third, the rolling out of the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) policy for secondary school students. On this one, NHIF board member Akelo Misori on Saturday said the fund was ready to roll out the program.Fourth, free textbooks for form one students by the government. The Ministry is planning to give books approved by the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (KICD) to all students joining Form One this year. Education Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i, says the textbooks have been procured in conjunction with publishers. This will start on Thursday.Finally, a new curriculum for junior learners and the 100 percent transition from primary to secondary school, will be among the new things learners will be waking up today.
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