Isiolo: Teachers from Isiolo County have joined colleagues across the country in appealing to the government to make the Junior Schools autonomous and also hire the current intern teachers on permanent terms. The teachers decried the rising conflict of interest and lack of clear guidelines on the management of Junior Schools' staff and resources. They said that the schools being domiciled in Primary Schools and supervised by the basic school heads put the JSS learning in an awkward position and therefore there is great need to have independence in their management.
According to Kenya News Agency, the Isiolo branch of the Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) highlighted that sports and co-curriculum activities were unfavourably affected since preparation for the students at JSS competition level were different from the basic learners, hence being a ground of conflict among teachers. The branch executive secretary, Moses Kimwere, added that a shortage of staff levels had forced some teachers to handle subjects they were not trained for, thus increasing their workload.
He pointed out that placing JSS under primary school management contradicted the career progression guidelines for secondary-level educators. A teacher, Sophia Mukami, expressed that the current arrangement negatively affects JSS learners, arguing that they should not share the same environment with primary pupils as it hinders their growth and self-awareness.
KUPPET branch chairman, Mr. Gilbert Wafula, emphasised that JSS teachers had worked as interns for too long and urged the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) to confirm them on permanent and pensionable terms. He stated that granting JSS autonomy would allow the institutions to manage resources independently, ensuring better quality education and having a clear-cut career progression path for them.