Junior Secondary School (JSS) teachers in Narok County have petitioned the government to review the current structure of junior schools, saying the arrangement is riddled with challenges that hinder effective learning and administration.
Speaking in Narok, JSS representative and teacher Janet Kerubo said the integration of junior schools into primary institutions had complicated the implementation of programmes, especially in co-curricular activities.
“We have raised concerns over how some programmes are being implemented. Co-curricular activities, in particular, have posed many challenges under this model,” Kerubo said.
She urged the Ministry of Education to reconsider the comprehensive school model, arguing that junior schools deserve their own independent administration.
Another teacher, Faith Mahiri, echoed the call for autonomy, saying that junior school teachers were qualified to take charge of administration at the JSS level.
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“We want our own administration to enable independent management. Curriculum activities meant for JSS are often mixed with those of primary pupils, and this makes it very difficult to deliver quality education,” said Mahiri.
The teachers further argued that sports and co-curricular activities should be managed independently and that resources should be allocated specifically to junior schools.
They also expressed concern that learners were being disadvantaged by being mixed with primary pupils, which, they said, denies them the full benefits of the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC).
Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) Bomet Branch Executive Secretary Paul Kimetto supported the petition, saying the Ministry of Education must re-examine the comprehensive school model.
“Merging the JSS and primary sections is not working, especially in co-curricular management and administration. The only way to address these challenges is to give JSS autonomy and independence to run its own affairs,” said Kimetto.
He added that the JSS management model should be carefully reviewed to ensure the CBC is fully improved and effectively implemented.
By KIMUTAI LANGAT
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