The Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) has raised fresh concerns over the condition of Junior School (JS) teachers stationed in primary schools, calling for an urgent restructuring of the entire Junior Secondary School (JSS) framework.
KUPPET is urging the government to relocate all Grade 9 classes — and ultimately the entire junior school cohort — to senior secondary institutions effective January.
Under the proposal, only Grades 7 and 8 would remain in primary schools, to be handled exclusively by primary school teachers who are more accustomed to the primary school environment.
The union argues that the current arrangement, which placed JSS inside primary school settings, has created a mismatch in teacher specialization, learning culture, and professional expectations.
According to KUPPET, the situation has directly contributed to rising mental health challenges among JSS teachers.
Reports indicate that several teachers deployed to primary schools have developed stress, burnout, and workplace tension, fueled by what they describe as “non-harmonized working conditions,” including sharing staffrooms and facilities with primary school teachers despite having distinct roles and qualifications.
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KUPPET leadership has warned both the Ministry of Education (MoE) and the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) not to downplay the matter, insisting that the issue has escalated into a welfare crisis that requires immediate intervention.
The union maintains that the most sustainable solution is to move JSS back to senior schools, where the learning culture aligns more naturally with the teachers’ training and specialization.
KUPPET has also advised JSS teachers to prepare for deployment to senior schools as early as January, pending parliamentary approval of petitions currently before the Education Committee. The union believes lawmakers will prioritize the welfare of teachers as they evaluate the recommendations.
If adopted, KUPPET’s proposal would mark a significant shift in the implementation of JSS, affecting thousands of teachers and learners across the country. Education stakeholders are now closely watching parliamentary deliberations as the nation awaits the final decision on the future of junior school.
By Philip Koech
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