Solve hitch of promoted but stuck JSS teachers

Junior school teachers, a key group in the transition to the Competency-Based Education (CBE), are being shortchanged.

Though they have supposedly been promoted, they are actually stuck, and that is the dilemma that is playing out. The people expected to play a key role in driving the education revolution find themselves professionally marooned.

This has dampened their hopes of advancing their careers after being moved from primary school. To make matters worse, the Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education (Kuppet) and the Kenya Union of Teachers (Knut) are wrangling over which one these teachers should belong to.

The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) is also being accused of overlooking teachers who had already risen through the ranks in the primary section before being deployed to junior schools.

For those who already held administrative positions in primary schools, the deployment has also meant the loss of professional recognition.

The CBE transition has pushed the Junior Secondary School (JSS) teachers into a professional deadlock, with many of them feeling severely short-changed. For those who had already earned promotions or gained management experience in primary schools, the deployment has given zero additional benefit.

As the JSS is domiciled in primary schools, the teachers lack independence and are blocked from climbing higher.

It gets messier, as highly qualified JSS tutors, many holding university degrees, find themselves reporting directly to primary school head teachers or deputies, who may only hold diplomas. Crucial decisions on resources and careers are channelled through the primary school hierarchy, leaving JSS staff isolated.

The Education authorities should resolve the problem before the beginning of the 2027 academic year for the smooth running of schools. It's only fair that it is done effectively.

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