Junior secondary teachers are more suited to teach primary education.
More than two years after the Junior Secondary School (JSS) section was created under the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC), students in grades 7 and 8 are not receiving the proper instruction.
The primary causes of the low level of learning in the JSS are the shortage of qualified JSS teachers, instructional resources, labs, libraries, and technical equipment; also, there are insufficient numbers of teachers and teacher strikes brought on by unfavorable work terms and circumstances.
The government, through the Ministry of Education and other stakeholders, should develop an adequate framework of training programs to prepare students for the paradigm shift, according to a 2019 study on teacher preparedness for the implementation of CBC by the Kenya National Union of Teachers.
This is because most curriculum design components, particularly those related to the delivery of content on learning areas and key competencies, assessments using rubrics, reporting, and evaluating students, had not been fully understood by teachers.
The same study also mentioned how important it was to have enough facilities and resources for CBC implementation. The study suggested that the ministry of education construct the necessary infrastructure to carry out the program.
Although not in a satisfactory way, some of the recommendations were handled. Without taking into account the topic combinations and numbers of the junior schools, the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) assigned teachers to them. For every JSS, the commission assigned one to three teachers.
The task is really heavy because there are not enough teachers. The quality has suffered as a result.
Teachers are still being trained by universities in outdated topic combinations that are not intended for the CBC. Teachers at junior schools should be prepared for middle school curriculum, not for secondary education.
A few JSS teachers are making assumptions. Consider Integrated Science and Pre-Technical Studies. If someone were teaching these courses, one would want to know if they possess the necessary competences.
Since they have been working with these students for the past seven or more years and have completed TSC’s tooling and retooling activities, primary school teachers may be better qualified to teach in JSS than recent college graduates.
It makes sense that elementary school teachers have been assisting in the JSS curriculum’s implementation under the direction of comprehensive school heads. It is documented that JSS teachers are being forced to teach subjects for which they are not qualified.
The majority of school administrators, in both secondary and primary schools, were not prepared to mentor and support teachers on CBC career pathways, assessments, and frameworks because they had not received the same training, according to a report on training needs released by the Education ministry in March 2024.
According to the same survey, school administrators were unable to decipher secondary and primary school curriculum designs.
The study also revealed that, when it comes to learning techniques, half of the principals and secondary school administrators are unable to guide and assist teachers in using CBC learning approaches.
Regarding the incorporation of ICT into CBC education, secondary and primary schools acknowledged their lack of readiness in terms of teacher mentorship.
The Education Ministry’s assessment mostly concurred that hiring qualified and driven teachers, enhancing school facilities, and raising community awareness of their roles in CBC are all necessary.
For a seamless deployment of CBC, the research suggested that curriculum designs and teaching and learning support materials be made available.
The report also discussed raising additional funding for curriculum implementation and simplifying CBC policy matters.
It is crucial that TSC hires JSS instructors with training in the subjects they are expected to teach. As a result of their training and retooling, instructors who have been teaching grades 1 through 6 have a greater understanding of these subject areas and are thus qualified to teach JSS.
Instead of the secondary teacher preparation that colleges currently offer, middle school teachers need to be prepared with the appropriate pedagogical skills and abilities in order to teach CBC.
When Grade 8 students transfer to Grade 9, the highest class in JSS, in 2025, they should be well-prepared for the three career routes available to them: STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math), social sciences, and arts and sports sciences.
By then, we must have our students ready. The government must make sure that students are taught the appropriate curriculum in order for them to become future workers and contribute to the development of the country.
Junior secondary teachers are more suited to teach primary education.
More Teachers Updates
Follow Us on Telegram.