Narok KUPPET Branch Junior Secondary School (JSS) Secretary Erick Simel has called for the full autonomy of Junior Secondary School teachers and the immediate confirmation of intern teachers into permanent and pensionable terms, citing growing concerns over teacher welfare and education delivery.
In his Labour Day message, Simel said JSS teachers continue to face structural and administrative challenges that affect their effectiveness in delivering the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC).
He urged education authorities to clearly define and separate their operational framework to improve efficiency, coordination and accountability within schools.
“JSS teachers need autonomy to perform their duties effectively. The current arrangement is limiting their professional output and creating confusion in implementation,” he said.
Simel noted that Junior Secondary School teachers are currently operating in an environment marked by unclear reporting structures and overlapping responsibilities, a situation he said has contributed to pressure and frustration among educators tasked with implementing CBC at a critical stage of learning.
He argued that granting full autonomy to JSS teachers would not only enhance professional clarity but also strengthen curriculum delivery and improve learner outcomes across schools.
Simel also raised concern over the continued service of intern teachers without confirmation, calling on the Teachers Service Commission to fast-track their absorption into permanent and pensionable terms.
He observed that many intern teachers are already handling full teaching responsibilities, including classroom instruction, assessment, and curriculum delivery, despite lacking job security and formal confirmation.
“These teachers are working like permanent staff yet remain interns. They deserve confirmation to motivate and stabilise the education sector,” Simel stated.
He warned that prolonged uncertainty among intern teachers risks lowering morale, affecting performance and weakening the overall stability of schools, especially at a time when the education system is undergoing major reforms.
The unionist emphasised that addressing both JSS autonomy and intern teacher confirmation is key to strengthening CBC implementation and improving the welfare of teachers across the country.
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He urged education stakeholders and policymakers to prioritise teacher-centred reforms, noting that sustainable education transformation must begin with fair treatment, recognition and proper support for teachers at all levels.
By Philip Koech
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