Due to their tense relationship with their school administrators, junior secondary school (JSS) teachers have expressed concern and called on the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) to step in.
The Heads of Institutions (HOI) are allegedly threatening them, coercing them, and engaging in pervasive, systemic discrimination, according to the JSS instructors.
The teachers are now calling on the Commission to look into the reported cases in-depth and impartially.
After considering the situation, the Makueni branch of the Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (Kuppet) cautioned head teachers of elementary schools who also serve as acting principals of junior secondary schools not to intimidate their teachers.
Most of the headteachers have not had good working relation with the JSS teachers since their employment in 2023.
The two have had unending battles that has affected quality of education in schools. Some teachers called for creation of JSS as independent institution to ease the tension.
However the Presidential Working Party on Education Reforms (PWPER) merged the nursery, primary and junior school into one institution called comprehensive school.
TSC had in January confirmed to pnp terms a total of 39,550 JSS teachers who were working on internship terms where 21,550 were recruited in February 2023 and 18,000 recruited in September 2023.
TSC posted an additional 20,000 JSS teachers in January to work on a one year internship term.
In November last year, the TSC CEO Dr. Nancy Macharia asked primary school headteachers to treat the JSS teachers well.
Speaking during the Kenya Primary School Heads Association (KEPSHA) conference in Mombasa, Macharia asked the headteachers to understand that the JSS teachers do not earn money and so need their support.
Macharia’s sentiments came after numerous cases of conflicts between JSS teachers and primary school headteachers were reported.
The JSS intern teachers get a stipend of sh 20,000 per month that is downsized to sh 17,000 after statutory deductions (SHIF, Housing Levy, NSSF).
Macharia asked the headteachers to support the teachers so they can help implement CBC in school.
Many reasons have been listed for the unending turmoil in schools caused by the two parties.
Some of the reasons for the disharmony between the primary school headteachers and the JSS teachers are;
1. Superiority complex where some JSS teachers think they are superior in terms of academic excellence compared to most headteachers who only have PTE certificates or a Diploma.
2. School monies where the JSS teachers feel the headteachers are not the right people to manage the JSS cash. Most JSS teachers claim the funds are being misused and not used prudently to address key issues.
3. Immaturity where some headteachers claim the JSS teachers are childish and behaving unprofessionally especially that most are Gen Z’s.
4. Insecurities of the headteachers who view the JSS teachers as a threat to the capitation they receive in schools. Some do not want the teachers to have any say over the JSS funds.
5. Frustrations due to harsh economy experienced by the JSS intern teachers because of the little pay they get from the employer while their colleagues in pnp earn better