- Kirinyaga education stakeholders want junior schools established as independent institutions with separate administrative structures.
- They are calling for distinct leadership, funding and Boards of Management to strengthen accountability.
- The proposals emerged during parliamentary public participation on proposed reforms to Kenya’s education laws.
Education stakeholders from Kirinyaga County have called on the government to establish an independent junior school framework for smoother running.
Speaking during a public participation session held at Kirinyaga University on Friday, the stakeholders said that with their independence, running of the schools would be seamless.
They also called for separate administration, funding and Boards of Management.
Gatundu North MP Elijah Kururia, a member of the National Assembly Education Committee, stated that stakeholders in the other nine counties they had previously visited had requested JSS be granted autonomy, adding that the proposal had received overwhelming support during consultations.
“Wherever we go, people are saying they want JSS to stand on its own, separated from primary schools, so that it becomes an independent institution with its own leadership, allocated funds and board of management,” Kururia said.
The legislator said the transition from primary to junior secondary education should be accompanied by meaningful institutional changes that clearly distinguish the two levels of learning.
“We must listen to what Kenyans are telling us because these reforms are about the future of our children. The views we collect from the public will help us come up with legislation that addresses the challenges being experienced in the education sector,” he said.
Kururia urged President William Ruto and Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba to consider the views collected during the public participation forums.
Private schools seek broader reforms
Meanwhile, Kenya Private Schools representative in Kirinyaga County Solomon Munene called for broader reforms to address challenges affecting both public and private learning institutions.
Munene proposed the establishment of a clear legal framework for the funding and coordination of co-curricular activities, saying the absence of structured guidelines had created challenges in managing the activities.
“Co-curricular activities are an important part of education, but there needs to be a clear framework on how they are funded and coordinated. Schools should not be left to struggle with these responsibilities without proper guidelines,” Munene said.
He also called for the establishment of a revolving education fund through the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) framework to enable private schools and other education stakeholders to access affordable financing.
Munene said such a fund would help institutions expand their capacity while reducing the financial burden on learners and parents.
On school registration, he urged lawmakers to extend provisional registration licences from one year to at least three years to give institution managers adequate time to fulfil the requirements.
Munene further called for equitable access to bursaries and scholarships, arguing that learners in private schools should not be excluded from financial assistance simply because of the institutions they attend.
“Those are all Kenyan children. Some of them are in private schools under sponsorship, so when they proceed to senior schools and universities, they should also be able to access scholarship and bursary funds,” he said.
Teachers back separate management
Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) Kirinyaga County Junior Secondary School Secretary Josphat Kariuki also backed the establishment of independent JSS institutions.
Kariuki said junior secondary education had distinct administrative and academic needs that required a separate management structure.
“We are calling for JSS to be established as independent institutions because they have their own unique needs. They should have their own principals, deputy principals and boards of management to ensure accountability,” Kariuki said.
He said JSS could continue sharing facilities such as playing fields and other infrastructure with primary schools, but should operate under separate management.
“We are not saying that JSS must have separate buildings from primary schools. They can share facilities, but administratively and in terms of management, they should be separate,” he said.
Alex Muthii, Assistant Executive Secretary of KUPPET in Kirinyaga County, echoed Kariuki’s sentiments, particularly on the welfare and career progression of JSS teachers.
Muthii called for automatic promotion of JSS teachers who were initially employed under the internship programme and later absorbed by the Teachers Service Commission (TSC).
“The teachers who were employed under the internship programme, served for two years and were later employed by TSC, should be promoted from C2 to C3 automatically after serving for one year,” Muthii said.
He argued that recognising the teachers’ experience and service would motivate them and improve morale within the junior secondary education sector.
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The stakeholders expressed hope that their proposals would be considered as the National Assembly Education Committee continues reviewing the proposed legislation, with the aim of strengthening education delivery across the country.
By Jane Mugambi
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