Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) has issued a clarion call to government to move all JSS teachers to senior schools starting January.
“Our Junior Secondary School (JSS) teachers have endured enough. For too long, they have been forced to work in environments that erode their professionalism, strain their mental health, and undermine the quality of education.” Union said.
KUPPET Secretary-General Akello Misori said Grade 9 and all JSS classes must be taught in senior school settings. Grades 7 and 8 should remain with primary school teachers who are trained and comfortable in that environment. “This is not a bureaucratic reshuffle—it is a moral imperative. It is about respecting the professionalism of teachers and safeguarding the future of learners.” He added
The situation on the ground is alarming. JSS teachers, trained to deliver secondary school curricula, are stuck in primary school classrooms with insufficient resources, limited authority, and little recognition. They share staffrooms with primary school teachers, attend irrelevant meetings, and operate in systems unsuited to adolescent learners.
KUPPET reports that several teachers have developed mental health challenges directly linked to this misplacement. This is no longer a minor grievance—it is a crisis.
The union said that teaching is more than delivering lessons. It is shaping young minds, mentoring adolescents, and fostering critical thinking. “How can teachers fulfill this mandate when their environment constantly undermines their role? A teacher under stress cannot inspire excellence. A system that demoralizes educators is a system failing its students. The government must understand that ignoring this is not just unwise—it is dangerous.”
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KUPPET’s warning to the Ministry of Education (MoE) and the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) is clear: do not ignore this issue. The patience of teachers is not infinite. Deploying JSS teachers to senior schools is not a favor; it is a professional necessity. These educators have the skills, training, and experience to guide adolescent learners through a critical stage of academic and personal growth. Keeping them in primary school settings risks producing students unprepared for the challenges of secondary education.
Parliament must also act. The petitions regarding the deployment of JSS teachers cannot remain on the shelves. Every day of delay prolongs stress and compromises student learning. Lawmakers must approve the petitions without procrastination and ensure immediate implementation. This is not a political debate—it is a question of ethics, professionalism, and national interest.
Moving JSS teachers to senior schools is more than a logistical adjustment. It is a recognition of their professionalism. It is a safeguard for mental health. It is a step toward a functional, effective, and fair education system. Teachers deserve workplaces that respect their expertise. Students deserve educators who are fully supported, mentally healthy, and able to deliver quality education.
Failure to act has consequences. Demoralized and misplaced teachers cannot perform. Students, in turn, bear the cost. Education is deliberate and structured—it cannot thrive on negligence. The government must provide teachers with the environment, authority, and resources they need to succeed. Protecting teachers is protecting Kenya’s future.
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KUPPET has drawn the line. Immediate action is non-negotiable. JSS teachers should prepare for deployment to senior schools, and bureaucratic delays must end. Protecting our educators is not optional—it is a national duty.
The time for excuses is over. The wellbeing of teachers and the future of learners demand urgency, clarity, and courage. Let this be the moment when the government affirms its commitment to education, professionalism, and human dignity. A teacher who is respected, supported, and empowered is the greatest investment a nation can make. Our students deserve nothing less.
By Hillary Muhalya
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