Government and Policy

P1 Teachers To Teach Junior Secondary School As New Recruits Delay

BY Getrude Mathayo · January 31, 2023 11:01 am

KEY POINTS

There are also concerns that the 30,000 teachers being recruited, which equates to one teacher per school, may be insufficient, given that some schools have more than three streams.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

Admission to Junior Secondary started on 30^th January but TSC is yet to finalize the recruitment and deployment of 30,000 teachers scheduled to teach in the newly introduced section of schools.

The Teacher Service Commission, TSC, has started the process of deploying teachers to junior secondary schools by asking for the details of P1 teachers.

Admission to Junior Secondary started on 30^th January but TSC is yet to finalize the recruitment and deployment of 30,000 teachers scheduled to teach in the newly introduced section of schools.

Junior secondary teacher recruitment and deployment might begin as early as late February or perhaps March. The government is dealing with a teacher shortage and inadequate infrastructure.

Though the government announced JSS guidelines last week, teachers, parents, and other education stakeholders believe there are still many unanswered questions. The teachers will assist in covering the notable teachers

Amidst the challenges, the government has directed to a make-do list with the available resources and infrastructure as they admit the learner. There are also concerns that the 30,000 teachers being recruited, which equates to one teacher per school, may be insufficient, given that some schools have more than three streams.

In addition, according to the Education Ministry’s JSS rules, students will be taught nine lessons per day for five days (45 per week), with each lesson lasting 40 minutes, implying that additional teachers will be needed. Primary school teachers allocate 35 minutes per lesson.

The guidelines also state that parents would be forced to cater their children’s meals, but the government has yet to establish the amount of money to be paid. Apparently, parents with secondary school pupils spend sh.4,000 every term on meals.

While Education Cabinet Secretary Ezekiel Machogu stated that Grade Six students transitioning to JSS will be required to wear a different color or type of uniform that distinguishes them from primary school students, most schools have yet to come up with designs and colors, leaving parents befuddled.

While asking parents not to panic, Kenya Primary Schools Heads Association (KEPSHA) chairman Johnson Nzioka wants head teachers to give parents additional time to purchase school uniforms.

“I know parents will have a challenge because of the short period of changing the uniform. “However, I urge all head teachers to grant parents a grace period to enable them to change over to the new uniform within an agreeable time frame,” Nzioka said.