For Junior Secondary School to succeed there should be collaboration between JSS teachers and Primary School Leaders.
This can be achieved through clear definition of roles, as overlapping responsibilities often lead to confusion and wastage of both human and physical resources.
However unclear roles have a tendency of creating confusion among students and staff which eventually leads to misunderstanding that can stifle the entire system.
Junior School has experienced a number as challenges, ranging from inadequate facilities and classrooms to insufficient training for teachers to adapt the new curriculum. Other issues include limited resources such as textbooks and learning materials, as well as transition challenges from primary to JSS.
As new as it is, there needs to be a review of the administrative structure of the three learning levels: Early Childhood, Primary and Junior Secondary School to ensure effective administration in these key prime learning areas.
A case in point is that both Junior School and ECDE lack substantive administrators, as their roles are currently assumed by the primary school administration.
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According to the JSS career progression guidelines, diploma holders enter employment at Job Group C1, while graduate teachers begin at Job Group C2.
Diploma teachers will be promoted automatically to C2 after serving three year with the graduate teachers to C3 after serving similar period.
Junior schools will have three administrative positions officially recognized and remunerated by the Teachers Service Commission (TSC).
These include the positions of Senior Master and Deputy Principal. The entry-level administrative role will be Senior Master IV, designated as JSS IV.
Designation and Job Group for Junior Secondary School (JSS) Teachers
Secondary Teacher III (JSS) CIF
Secondary Teacher II (JSS) C2G
Secondary Teacher I (JSS) C3H
Senior Master IV (JSS) C4J
Senior Master III (JSS) C5K
Senior Master II (JSS) DIL
Senior Master I (JSS) D2M
Deputy Principal IV (JSS) C5K
Deputy Principal III (JSS) D1L
Deputy Principal II (JSS) D2M
Deputy Principal I (JSS) D3N
Principal (JSS) D3N
Senior Principal (JSS) D4P
Chief Principal (JSS) D5Q
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The above levels clearly show that deputy head teachers are designated as (JSS IV) upon deployment, which is equivalent to the Senior Master IV rank with head teachers serving in Grade C5 hold the title of Senior Master III.
BASIC SALARY
Grade | Minimum Basic salary | Maximum Basic salary |
C1 | 27,195 | 33,994 |
C2 | 34,955 | 43,694 |
C3 | 43,154 | 53,943 |
C4 | 52, 308 | 65,385 |
C5 | 62,272 | 77,840 |
D1 | 77, 840 | 93,408 |
D2 | 91, 041 | 109, 249 |
D3 | 104,644 | 125, 573 |
D4 | 118, 242 | 141, 891 |
D5 | 131, 380 | 157,656 |
COMMUTER ALLOWANCE
C1 – 4,000
C2 – 5,000
C3 – 6,000
C4 – 8,000
D1 – 12,000
D2 – 12,000
D3 – 14,000
D4 – 14,000
D5 – 16,000
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DISABILITY GUIDE ALLOWANCE
C1 – 20,000
C2 – 20,000
C3- 20,000
C4 – 20,000
C5 – 20,000
D1 – 20,000
D2 – 20,000
D3 – 20,000
D4 – 20,000
D5 – 20,000
LEAVE ALLOWANCE (Paid once a year in January)
C1 – 4,000
C2 – 6,000
C3 – 6,000
C4 – 6,000
C5 – 6,000
D1 – 10,000
D2 – 10,000
D3 – 10,000
D4 – 10,000
D5 – 10,000
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HOUSE ALLOWANCE
Hse1 ,Nairobi Hse2 ,Major Municipalities :Mombasa, Kisumu, Nyeri, Eldoret, Thika, Kisii and Kitale ,Hse3, Other former minor municipalities, Hse4 and all other areas.
C1 – 10,000 7,500 5,800 4,200
C2 – 16,500 12,800 9,600 7,500
C3 – 28,000 22,000 16,500 13,000
C4 – 28,000 22,000 16,500 13,000
C5 – 35,000 25,500 18,000 15,400
D1 – 45,000 28,000 21,000 16,800
D2 – 45,000 28,000 21,000 16,800
D3 – 45,000 28,000 21,000 16,800
D4 – 45,000 28,000 21,000 16,800
D5 – 50,000 35,000 25,000 20,000
HARDSHIP ALLOWANCE
C1 – 8,200
C2 – 10,900
C3 – 12,300
C4 – 14,650
C5 – 17,100
D1 – 27,300
D2 – 27,300
D3 – 31,500
D4 – 31,500
D5 – 38,100
The situation has become increasingly confusing. A serving Deputy Head teacher in C4 grade (Job Group J), who was previously in Job Group L under the former scheme of service, is often overlooked after being deployed to Junior Secondary School. It is assumed that the school does not have a substantive Deputy Head teacher, and as a result, a new Deputy is posted to the same station.
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For a Head teacher promoted to teach in Junior Secondary School, the equivalent designation is JSS III, which is still at the level of a Senior Master ,not even at the level of a Deputy Principal or Principal.
Both letters issued to the promoted Deputy and Head teachers indicate that they are still considered junior teachers, meaning they are far from being principals in their respective schools.
The teacher’s employer must clarify when and from where the administrators/ principals of Junior Secondary School will come from because as it stands, all Junior Secondary Schools have a power vacuum which is very unsafe.
What would happen if head teachers in C5 and deputies in C4 woke up one day to find that the employer had posted a principal and deputy principal to their schools?
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Sadly, teachers who attended interviews for JSS positions while in grades C4, C5 or even D1 did not gain any monetary benefits; instead, they lost their legitimate titles, transitioning from Deputy Head teacher to Senior Teacher.
This completely discouraged certified and talented teachers from even applying for any position in Junior Secondary School.
The teacher’s employer has this option, either to promote the existing administrators to that prime level or post principals and deputy principals to these schools so that proper administrative structures can be in place.
When is the teacher’s employer expected to establish clear structures that promote the interests of Junior Secondary School?
Going by the current trend, existing JSS teachers may have to work for over 39 years to attain principal status, assuming they are promoted every three years.
If all matters remain constant and going by the unfolding trends, those working as Senior Masters, would have to wait for about 30 years to reach the level of Principal.
By Hillary Muhalya
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