Teachers furious after losing their jobs at junior secondary schools.
Primary school teachers are at odds with the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) over the latter’s decision to hire graduate teachers in place of upgrading them to teach junior secondary schools.
Teachers reported through the Kenya National Union of Teachers (Knut) that they were disregarded even though they had improved their qualifications.
According to Knut, a number of the graduate teachers hired do not possess the necessary abilities to instruct junior secondary school (JSS) students.
According to Knut Secretary-General Collins Oyuu in an interview with The Nation, there is improper learning in JSS since the graduate teachers do not meet the requirements.
“Teachers of music, art and craft, computers, and other topics should not be forced to teach English and literature. Mr. Oyuu stated, “Primary school teachers can assume the role of teaching Grade 7 and Grade 8 students.
He indicated that Knut is releasing a brief policy paper to specify who should stay in JSS and to clarify the losses the teaching community has suffered as a result of the JSS teacher staffing.
According to the Knut secretary-general, primary school teachers are responsible for 80% of what goes on in JSS (Grades 7 and 8).
According to Mr. Oyuu, Knut will do a situational analysis at every public school after consulting with education sector technocrats. According to Mr. Oyuu, there is confusion and a latent rebellion in JSS.
The official asked the TSC and the Ministry of Education to discuss the JSS.
“What made the P1 instructors return to college in order to enhance their course offerings? Why was the update carried out? Why? What purpose did it serve? To prevent confusion, let each person focus on their areas of productivity,” he continued.
According to Mr. Oyuu, it is not cost-effective for the commission to pay JSS teachers substantial wages but leave them idle.
“What makes seventh and eighth grade so fascinating? Nothing! Nothing new has occurred. I like to remind the Teacher Service Commission that P1 teachers were not asked to update their skills in vain by the Ministry of Education. Giving them the capacity to manage Grades 7, 8, and 9 was the rationale, according to the union president.
According to Mr. Oyuu, the teachers enrolled in courses to develop their skills after receiving their P1 credentials.
Why is it necessary for you to hire an English and literature graduate to instruct students in grades 7 and 8? The union president emphasized, “They are not making any progress in those schools.”
The State has been pushed by Knut and the Kenya Primary Schools Head Teachers Association (Kepsha) to house Grades 7, 8, and 9 in primary schools rather than senior schools since 2021.
Mr. Oyuu stated, “Since 80 percent of these students are graduates and some even hold master’s degrees, our primary school teachers can effectively instruct these students.”
But in 2022, after stakeholder engagement, President William Ruto established JSS in primary schools.
The Presidential Working Party on Education Reforms was established by Dr. Ruto to investigate the Competency-Based Curriculum. The group included professionals such as teachers’ associations and union representatives.
Professor Raphael Munavu chaired the 42-member group, which included important education stakeholders such as parents, educators, school owners, and religious leaders.
The Kenya Secondary Schools Heads Association, Kepsha, and the Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (Kuppet) were among the groups the team visited throughout the nation to gather opinions. The JSS should be taught in primary schools, according to the stakeholders.
Head teachers of secondary schools and Kuppet have been pleading with the State to permit the Grade 9 students to transfer to educational facilities with sufficient facilities, such as classrooms, labs, and teachers, rather than the current primary schools, which are struggling with insufficient facilities.
However, Grade 9 will continue to be taught in primary schools, according to Education Cabinet Secretary Ezekiel Machogu, as the State works quickly to build additional infrastructure in preparation for the first group of students to follow the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC).
Due to the overcrowding in public schools across the nation, there has been a great deal of pushback and pull among stakeholders on the placement of Grade 9 students.
The lack of readiness for the transfer of Grade 9 students worries principals.
Teachers furious after losing their jobs at junior secondary schools.
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