All is not good in primary schools between the Heads of the Institutions (HOIs) and the Junior Secondary Teachers JSS since the start of the domiciling of the primary and junior learning in the primary schools under the CBE.
While the JSS tutors want to be given a higher recognition than their counterparts teaching in the lower primary sections, the HOIs have been adamant the two sections require equal treatment as employers of the TSC.
According to the JSSs, their roles were a bit tedious, consumed of a lot time and more involving and such they could not be equated with those under the lower primary section which were more classroom work.
Owing to the stand-off between the JSSs and the HOIs which has created bad blood over the running of the institutions, the latter have resorted to taking disciplinary measures against the tutors of the higher learning.
And the tutors have not let it go. They have vowed to continue agitating for their rights including being accorded better learning environment in line with their advantaged higher qualifications than some of the headmasters.
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‘’They have created a world of their own, feeling superior to other teachers when they are just doing the same work. For some, they cannot take directives from their seniors despite being teachers like them,” an HOI said adding that the JSS teachers ought to abide by the rules of management of the school.
“These rules are enforced by the head in the accordance with the policies and regulations of the MoE. Some, even, have refused to be supervised and the sharing of the learning materials and staff rooms’’, he added.
But a JSS teacher talked of lack of lockers for safe custody of documents and sockets to charge their computers for the e-learning. And what has been the results of these disorders, confusion and complexities for them?
Education News has learnt that numerous show-cause letters has been given to various JSS teachers across the country. Relocation of subjects and formal outside classroom duties have been reallocation.
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For example, a head teacher of a comprehensive school within the Kitale Municipality in Trans Nzoia County (name withheld) recently handed over 4 out 6 show-cause letters to the JSS tutors for alleged defiance. The victims have also been threatened with dire consequences including transfers and summary dismissals.
It is also reported that most JSS teachers are seeking for transfers to schools located within Municipalities due to the Enhanced Municipal Allowances and easier access to the schools as compared to the institutions in the rural area which lack facilities such as decent accommodation, electricity and transport.
According to the TSC regulations, a teacher ought to be transferred to a new station at least after working in the old school for not less than five years and as such the planned transfers of the 4 JSS tutors at the Kitale Comprehensive School headed by a woman HOI were termed as unprocedural.
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There were reports that following the action of the HOIs eagerness to discipline the JSS teachers, fellow head teachers were in line to follow suit that might affect more tutors in the county, a move that could affect junior learning in most of institutions especially in the rural areas.
But even as the two labour unions KUPPET and KNUT focus on defending the teachers, it is not clear as to which the trade movement the JSS teachers have subscribed to as the two move to the schools to woo them to subscribe as members.
But the chairman of Trans Nzoia KEPSHA Eliud Kipruto when contacted on phone described the matter as serious allegations which require an elaborate time to be discussed about.
Though calls to both the County MoE and TSC Directors Pamella Okello and Solomon Leesewa respectfully went unanswered.
BY ABISAI AMUGUNE
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