JSS Classes to Remain in Primary Schools, Confirms Education CS.
Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba reaffirmed that Grades 7 to 9 for Junior Secondary School (JSS) will continue to be domiciled in primary schools.
He emphasized that the Presidential Working Party on Education Reforms (PWPER) had already resolved the issue. This declaration was made during the official launch of textbook distribution for Grade 9.
Despite the decision, the Kenya Secondary Schools Heads Association (KESSHA) has been pushing for Grade 8 and 9 learners to be transferred to secondary schools.
KESSHA raised concerns regarding insufficient resources in primary schools. However, the government remains firm in keeping the learners in their current setting.
Progress on JSS Classrooms
The transition of the first cohort of Grade 9 learners is scheduled for next year. Ogamba revealed that the government has constructed 3,500 classrooms to accommodate the JSS learners.
Additionally, the construction of another 7,500 classrooms is in progress, with completion rates varying between 22% and 68%. The Ministry of Education (MoE) and the National Government Constituencies Development Fund (NG-CDF) are collaborating to complete the final batch of 5,000 classrooms.
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The distribution of textbooks for Grade 9 reflects the government’s dedication to ensuring all learners have sufficient learning materials. Ogamba also highlighted efforts to strengthen the teaching workforce, stating that more than 60,000 teachers have been trained to handle JSS.
Furthermore, in January 2025, 20,000 interns will be hired, and plans are underway to retool more teachers during the same period.
Teachers Service Commission’s Recruitment Drive
On the same day, Teachers Service Commission (TSC) CEO Dr. Nancy Macharia briefed the National Assembly Education Committee about the Commission’s ongoing recruitment efforts.
Macharia confirmed that all 46,000 intern teachers will transition to permanent and pensionable terms. Additionally, another 20,000 teachers will be recruited under similar terms in January.
The recent call for applications by TSC earlier this month received an overwhelming response, with 314,000 applicants for JSS teaching positions. The breakdown of applicants is as follows:
| Category | Positions Available | Number of Applicants |
|---|---|---|
| Primary School Teachers | 6,000 | 93,646 |
| Junior Secondary School Teachers | 39,550 | 144,177 |
| Secondary School Teachers | 450 | 76,294 |
ALSO READ: Education CS Ogamba Launches Grade 9 Textbooks Distribution.
Documents presented to the Committee show that 8,378 primary school teachers have been reassigned to JSS, raising the total number of JSS teachers to 56,928.
JSS Classes to Remain in Primary Schools, Confirms Education CS.
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