The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) has outlined its plan for teacher allocation in both Junior Secondary Schools (JSS) and primary schools. According to the body, Each JSS class will receive one dedicated teacher, according to TSC legal officer Cavin Anyuor. This policy ensures a focus on individualized attention and student support within JSS classrooms.
Mr. Anyuor further explained that teacher allocation is based on the number of Grade 7 classes nationwide. “If a county has 1,000 Grade 7 classes, we have allocated 1,000 teachers,” he said. He also mentioned that teacher allocation considers the budget allocated by the Treasury.
Upskilling Primary School Teachers for JSS
TSC Chair Jamleck Muturi announced plans to retrain existing primary school teachers who hold the necessary qualifications to teach in JSS. This will help address staffing needs in the new program.
JSS Background and Current Situation
JSS was started in December 2017, with the point being to put emphasis on learners’ competencies and skills instead of just content knowledge. Grade 7 acts as a go-between phase for learners moving from primary school to secondary school, and is intended for those who are aged between 12 up until they reach 14 years old.
Currently, there is uncertainty surrounding the situation with JSS intern teachers. These teachers are protesting and demanding full-time employment with pension benefits, rather than the current one-year contract system.