Junior school teachers have clashed with officials of the Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (Kuppet) over a proposal to domicile junior schools inside senior schools.
Kuppet which had invited the junior school teachers for a historic meeting at Sportsview Hotel, Kasarani on 3rd March appeared reluctant to support the teachers bid for autonomy.
The meeting was attended by the Kuppet Secretary-General, Akello Misori, members of the National Executive Board (NEB), and all elected JSS representatives under Kuppet.
Instead, its officials want the teachers to support its initiative which seek to have Grade 8 and 9 classes relocated to senior schools.
Kuppet chairperson, Omboko Milemba, who is also the Emuhaya MP is sponsoring the motion that will see the two grades moved to senior schools.
Milemba’s bill is a reaction to the recent Grade10 enrolment crisis that threatened collapse of C4 schools.
“Our senior secondary schools, especially those classified as C4, are facing a serious challenge. This is because schools in categories C1, C2 and C3 admitted almost all Grade 10 students, leaving C4 schools struggling with low enrollment. Many of them are now fighting to survive,” said Milemba.
He argued that some areas have poor transport systems and distances are long saying students from such regions cannot easily travel to far-off institutions.
“For them, nearby schools are not a luxury but a necessity. To mitigate this imbalance, I will be tabling a Motion in the National Assembly proposing that one or two classes currently placed in junior schools be moved to senior secondary schools,” he said.
Many senior secondary schools are well equipped with laboratories, libraries, qualified teachers and spacious classrooms.
However a significant number do not even have Grade 10 students. This according to Milemba is an underutilization of valuable public resources.
“This Motion will seek to move Grades 8 and 9 to senior schools, thereby protecting small schools, ensuring every child has a fair chance to learn and making full use of the infrastructure and personnel available in our senior secondary institutions”.
However majority of junior schools are opposed to Kuppet proposal. The teachers want an independent junior school.
Officials of the Kenya Junior School Teachers Association (Kejusta) which is fighting for institution self determination and were present during negotiations with Kuppet, are taking the union proposal with a pinch of salt.
Many teachers view Kuppet plan as a way of gaining more union membership rather than ensuring efficiency.
The teachers are backing up a proposal by Teachers Service Commission (TSC) which seek to establishment of independent governance and administrative structure for junior schools.
TSC in proposals which were presented to Parliament before the National Assembly Committee on Education, want the junior schools which comprise of Grades 7, 8 and 9 to operate independently, with its own principal and deputy principal.
The junior school teachers are keen not to squander this opportunity which could open the path to their promotion.
Currently the institutions are managed by primary school headteachers in acting capacity and have managed this section for the past three years.
When she appeared before the Committee, TSC Acting Chief Executive Officer Evelyne Mitei said the move grant junior schools autonomy is intended to strengthen leadership, accountability, and service delivery in junior schools, which are currently managed jointly with primary schools.
Mitei told MPs that the change would require increased budget allocations for personnel emoluments to sustain the new leadership positions.
“In a bid to streghten leadership and governance in junior schools, there is a proposed policy change to provide a new administrative structure,” Mitei stated.
She added that the reforms are necessary to support effective curriculum implementation and ensure proper succession management within schools.
TSC indicated that newly deployed administrators would require extensive training and capacity building to manage the institutions effectively.
