Members of Parliament have proposed the deployment of principals to Junior Secondary Schools (JSSs) in a bid to streamline administration and address long‑standing calls for autonomy from Junior Secondary School (JSS) teachers.
The proposal, contained in resolutions from the legislators’ fourth retreat in Naivasha, urges the Ministry of Education to review governance structures and clarify leadership roles in JSS. The MPs argue that assigning principals would strengthen management, improve access to facilities, and enhance co‑curricular programmes.
“This review should consider autonomy, leadership structures, feasibility of deploying principals, and access to specialised facilities,” reads the document outlining the reforms.
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If adopted, the move would mark a significant victory for JSS teachers, who have consistently demanded independence from lower primary schools. They say autonomy would bring clarity in financial management and career progression, while addressing challenges such as poorly equipped laboratories and uncertainty over the confirmation of 20,000 JSS interns.
The Kenya Association of Junior School Teachers, KUPPET, and more than 50,000 tutors have backed the push, insisting that the current arrangement under primary school administration undermines professional growth. Budget constraints have left thousands of teachers on short‑term contracts, further fueling discontent.
However, the Kenya National Union of Teachers has previously opposed the autonomy push, citing recommendations from the Presidential Working Party on Education Reform.
Educators argue that granting independence to JSS would simplify administration and strengthen implementation of the Competency‑Based Curriculum (CBC).
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MPs also called for stricter oversight of school fees, citing irregular levies and hidden charges imposed on parents. They resolved to amend the Basic Education Act, 2013, to introduce sanctions and criminal penalties for school heads who flout approved fee structures.
The legislators further urged the ministry to fast‑track the National Policy on School Uniforms and the School Lunch Programme, saying these measures would ease the financial burden on parents. They also emphasized the need to curb corruption and irregularities linked to unregulated uniform and service costs.
By Masaki Enock
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