KNUT Wants TSC to Hire Diploma Teachers in JSS, Questions P1 Teacher Retraining
The Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) has urged the government to hire Diploma teachers for Grades 8 and 9.
KNUT Secretary General Collins Oyuu highlighted the urgent need for the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) to act on teacher promotions and address the broader issues affecting the teaching profession in Kenya.
Oyuu called on the Ministry of Education and the TSC to reconsider the allocation of teaching responsibilities, questioning the rationale behind sending P1 teachers back to college for additional training if they were not to teach JSS.
“Why were the P1 teachers taken back to college to augment their courses? Why was the upgrading done? For what reason? What was its use? Let every person concentrate on where they can work efficiently so as to avoid confusion.”
Knut and the Kenya Primary Schools Head Teachers Association (Kepsha) have been advocating since 2021 for Grades 7, 8, and 9 to remain in primary schools rather than moving to secondary schools.
In 2022, following stakeholder consultations, President William Ruto decided to domicile JSS in primary schools.
He established the Presidential Working Party on Education Reforms to examine the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC) system.
This taskforce, chaired by Professor Raphael Munavu, included various stakeholders such as parents, teachers, religious leaders, and school owners, who generally supported placing JSS in primary schools.
However, secondary school head teachers and the Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (Kuppet) have pushed for Grade 9 learners to transition to secondary institutions with better infrastructure.
Education Cabinet Secretary Ezekiel Machogu responded by affirming that Grade 9 will remain in primary schools, as the State works to improve infrastructure for the CBC learners.
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The debate over the placement of Grade 9 learners continues, driven by concerns about congestion in public schools and the readiness of these schools to accommodate the transition. Principals remain apprehensive about the lack of preparation for this shift.
KNUT Wants TSC to Hire Diploma Teachers in JSS, Questions P1 Teacher Retraining
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