By F, KNA
Junior Secondary School (JSS) teachers in Uasin Gishu County have renewed calls to the government to grant autonomy to Junior Secondary institutions and confirm thousands of intern teachers into Permanent and Pensionable terms.
Speaking to the media in Eldoret, the teachers expressed gratitude to President, Dr. William Ruto and his Administration for confirming 46,000 teachers who had been serving under contracts, terming it a bold step in strengthening the teaching workforce.
However, they urged the government to confirm more than 20,000 intern teachers, saying this would strengthen the workforce, improve education quality and motivate teachers to continue shaping the nation’s future.
The Educators also faulted the proposed Curriculum reforms, insisting that the Competency-Based Education (CBE), should remain in its original 2-6-3-3-3 structure, as opposed to the 2-9-3 model.
They maintained that Junior Secondary is a secondary school level and should be staffed and managed independently from primary schools.
They cited inadequate facilities such as laboratories, microscopes and chemicals, arguing that reliance on primary School Capitation Funds undermines quality learning.
They also raised concerns over mismanagement of co-curricular activities, when placed under primary school structures.
The teachers, further opposed the government’s proposal to establish comprehensive schools, bringing together ECDE, primary and junior secondary under one Administration, warning that it would disadvantage graduate teachers and undermine career progression.
A JSS teacher, Vincent Keter, stressed the need to employ more teachers, to handle specialized subjects such as Music and Creative Arts.
“We strongly need autonomy for Junior Secondary Schools. In addition, we call for the employment of more teachers in junior schools, especially those to handle special subjects that are currently underserved,” Keter said.
The Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET), Secretary Secondary, Uasin Gishu Chapter, Lucy Rono, noted said their resolve to continue pushing for the independence of junior schools still stands.
The teachers urged Members of Parliament to reject the comprehensive school model, when it comes up for debate and instead safeguard the autonomy of junior secondary institutions.
They also appealed to the government to confirm all intern teachers by November 1, even if it calls for budgetary reallocation.
The calls come barely a week after President William Ruto, hosted 10,000 teachers at State House, Nairobi, where he announced that the government had hired 76,000 teachers and plans to raise the number to 100,000 by January 2026.
