The Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT), Sotik Branch, now wants all primary schools to be gazetted to host Junior Secondary School (JSS) as a way of easing congestion.
Branch secretary Mathias Langat said the current JSS are grappling with high population pressure, which he says affects learning.
Addressing the press, Langat noted that most JSS learners cover long distances to reach school, passing through dangerous places such as rivers.
“Learners here cover long distances to JSS and as we speak, the schools are congested. Learners even risk their lives crossing flooded rivers, which is unacceptable,” he said.
According to him, students also face huge risks occasioned by the ongoing rains, hence the need for intervention.
Langat said the available teachers can teach in JSS, adding that the area has 40 schools which have not been gazetted as JSS.
“Our teachers are equally qualified and it is wrong to deny them the chance to teach in JSS. As a union, we are telling TSC and the Ministry of Education (MoE) to stop discrimination and allow our teachers to offer their services,” added Langat.
This comes two days after parents from Kapkemoi Primary School in Chepalungu Sub-county staged a demonstration demanding that the school be gazetted as JSS.
The parents argued that the school has enough materials and infrastructure, adding that their children have been covering long distances in search of JSS education.
By Evans Langat
Get more stories from our website: Education News
To write to us or offer feedback, you can reach us at: editor@educationnews.co.ke
You can also follow our social media pages on Twitter: Education News KE and Facebook: Education News Newspaper for timely updates.
>>> Click here to stay up-to-date with trending regional stories
