Government to Review Primary School Headteachers’ Promotion Request to Principal Status
Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba has reassured primary school headteachers that their requests for elevation to principal status will be considered, given the added responsibilities they have taken on since junior secondary schools were introduced last year.
He committed to an impartial assessment of elevating primary school administrators to the principal level, which is traditionally limited to secondary school leaders, while considering the potential financial impact on the government.
Mr. Ogamba pledged to explore all possibilities regarding the promotion of primary school administrators, stating that where feasible, the government would implement the changes. In cases where adjustments are not possible, he promised to provide explanations and engage in discussions with the educators.
“Where it is possible, we will do it. Where it is not possible, we will explain why and negotiate with you. You know I am a trained lawyer, and my job is to convince the judge. So, I will try to negotiate with you, but whatever you are entitled to, the changes that are coming, we will align them to ensure a smooth transition,” he added.
Drawing on his background in law, he emphasized his commitment to negotiating fairly, noting that he would work to align the forthcoming changes to support a seamless transition for primary school headteachers.
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The Cabinet Secretary acknowledged that headteachers would face increased duties with the addition of Grade 9 in January 2025. He made these remarks during the official closing of the Kenya Primary School Head Teachers Association (Kepsha) annual conference in Mombasa.
Headteachers’ Call for Upgraded Job Grades and Career Progression
During the conference, primary school headteachers requested the Ministry of Education and the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) to consider upgrading their job grades.
They highlighted their roles in overseeing comprehensive schools that include pre-primary, primary, and junior secondary levels.
Kepsha Chair Johnson Nzioka urged for higher salaries to reflect the expanded management responsibilities and advocated for promotions for those who have pursued further studies, allowing career advancement beyond Job Grade D1.
Mr. Ogamba recognized the challenges present within the education sector. He shared his experience of facing various hurdles since his appointment, assuring teachers that the government was committed to addressing these issues and emphasizing that teachers would not be overlooked.
Efforts to Address Strikes in Educational Institutions
He cited recent teacher strikes and an ongoing strike by university lecturers as challenges he has dealt with in his tenure.
He shared that negotiations with stakeholders, such as those with Moi University, were ongoing, with an agreement reached early Wednesday to resume classes, illustrating the government’s efforts to maintain educational continuity.
Mr. Ogamba expressed his intent to prevent further disruptions, emphasizing that educators should remain in the classroom, not on the streets.
The administrators also called on the Ministry of Education to utilize the competency-based assessment portal within the National Education Management Information System for resource allocation, instead of birth certificates.
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They argued that many students lack essential documents, resulting in schools losing out on capitation funds. Additionally, they urged the government to increase capitation funding for free education, aligning with recommendations from the 2023 Presidential Working Party on Education Reforms (PWP-ER).
They requested the government ensure that free education funds are released promptly, ideally before the start of each term, to support smooth school operations.
Government to Review Primary School Headteachers’ Promotion Request to Principal Status
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