The Kenya Primary Schools Heads Association (KEPSHA) and the Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) have strongly opposed a proposed administrative structure that they say would allow junior teachers—many of them fresh college graduates—to supervise or rank the same level as experienced school heads.
The disagreement arose after the Teachers Service Commission’s (TSC) Director of Staffing, Antonia Lentoijoni, announced plans to introduce a new management model for comprehensive schools. Under the proposal, each school would be headed by a principal, supported by two deputies: one overseeing primary school and another in charge of junior school.
The two factions has dismissed the idea, describing it, as impractical and disrespectful as providing leadership framework on primary institutions.
The matter comes amid ongoing tensions between leaders and junior school staff, who have been working side by side for nearly three years since the rollout of the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC). More than 80,000 teachers are deployed across 20,000 junior schools nationwide.
Lentoijoni acknowledged the friction, saying head teachers currently continue to support junior school operations under interim guidelines as the commission finalise on the framework for shared administrative roles.
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“Until we put up a structure legally, our head teachers are still helping us and they have guidelines on how to handle the situation,” she said.
Kepsha Chairperson Fuad Ali dismissed the proposed structure as unacceptable, insisting that junior school teachers must respect these requirements.
“We do not want politics in our schools. You either respect the administration of the day in the comprehensive schools or go and teach in senior school,” said Ali Ali, who is also the head teacher of Nairobi Comprehensive School.
He added that junior school teachers who are uncomfortable with current arrangements should transition to senior school alongside Grade 9 learners.
His sentiments were echoed by KNUT Secretary General Collins Oyun who also criticised the idea that junior school teachers could be elevated to deputy head positions based solely on recent qualifications.
“No one can be considered for promotion without looking at their experience and number of years in service. You cannot come from college yesterday and purport to be a deputy head of an institution. You cannot” said Oyuu.
He argued that experience, qualifications and the levels previously taught must guide promotions.
He added that historically, when there were Kenya Junior Secondary Examination, O-level exams, and Higher Education exams (Form Four and Five), the institutions always under one pupil’s tip, with promotions based on seniority.
“TSC, we are watchful. Promote those who have the length of service in teaching,” he warned.
The commission is currently reviewing staffing norms to align with the recommendations of the Presidential Working Party on Education Reforms.
The Junior Secondary School leadership has been a contentious issue in the past with the JSS tutors pushing for delinking from the established Comprehensive school and granted autonomy to run their affairs independently.
The teachers raised concern over discrimination, toxic working environment, inadequate teaching material and poor work environment, which they said affect the effective implementation of the Competency Based Education especially the STEM subjects.
By Juma Ndigo
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