Junior Secondary School teachers now want to be delinked from the leadership of primary schools because of tension and operational challenges that have been facing them. Since the rollout of the Competency-Based Curriculum, JSS has been domiciled in primary schools, a factor that has brought friction between the heads of primary schools and newly appointed JSS teachers. Some of these teachers reported being compelled to teach primary school classes, something they consider out of their scope as JSS educators.
The Call for Autonomy
According to JSS teachers-who are largely graduates-if the old system of 8-4-4 had its way, some would have directly been posted to secondary schools. However, they find themselves working under primary school heads, something that is causing them a conflict of duties. The national chairman of JSS teachers, Omari Omari, is pushing for an independent operation where JSS teachers should work without supervision from primary school head teachers.
Omari spoke during a luncheon organized by Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna to celebrate World Teachers' Day, where JSS teachers further demanded the creation of a clear management system specific to their roles. The current structure is "untenable," he said, citing friction between JSS teachers and primary school head teachers. Schools have been turned into "crime scenes" where teachers have to fight over roles every day.
Press for an Independent Union
Besides demanding operational autonomy, JSS teachers are pressing for the creation of an independent trade union. The JSS teachers have criticized the two currently operating teachers' unions in Kenya, the Kenya National Union of Teachers and the Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers, for what they say are hopeless attempts at representing their interests.
They argued that an independent union would serve the will and needs of teachers better so their specific problems could be catered to in regard to career development, working conditions, and proper representation in the relevant decision making.
Legislative Support Called For
JSS teachers are also fighting for legislative action to address the management problems they face. They called upon Senator Sifuna to lead a bill that would, in effect, detach their management system from that of primary schools. According to Omari, a clear command system is needed such that the roles and responsibilities of JSS teachers are well elaborated, the head teachers for further avoidance of conflict.
Apart from that, the teachers are claiming a representation in the Teachers Service Commission. To date, the TSC responsible for addressing the human resource functions of the teachers has no representative of the teachers on it - a situation they are claiming should change.
Support from the Political Sphere and Historical Context.
Senator Sifuna supported the inclusion of teachers in the TSC, noting that the same was proposed during the Building Bridges Initiative. Although the BBI was declared unconstitutional in 2022, Sifuna said that among the proposals that were made in the initiative included the formation of the Health Service Commission and the inclusion of teachers within the TSC.
Sifuna maintained that it was time the government revisited these proposals to ensure the address of the concerns of teachers. He promised support for the cause of the teachers and their continued inclusion within the TSC.