About 20,000 principals of primary schools no longer expect to be confirmed as junior school (JSS) principals.
According to the Teachers Service Commission (TSC), their status as junior school principals has an impact on their conditions of service, which will need to be discussed during the upcoming cycle of the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).
TSC CEO Dr. Nancy Macharia told teachers at the Kenya Primary School Headteachers Association (KEPSHA) meeting in Mombasa that cooperation with the Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) is necessary to incorporate these new duties into the job descriptions for JSS management.
She suggested that in order to guarantee that these duties are appropriately reflected in the forthcoming 2025–2029 CBA, the headteachers should work closely with KNUT.
Dr. Macharia emphasized that if these details are included in the CBA, TSC would support granting these teachers the title of Principal.
Appeal for Support and Compliance
Dr. Macharia called on the National Assembly Committee on Education and Research, chaired by Julius Melly, to back this initiative, ensuring that the new CBA includes these provisions.
She also urged headteachers to promptly submit casualty forms for newly hired teachers to facilitate timely salary payments and avoid delays that cause financial strain.
Special Needs Education (SNE) teachers were encouraged to take advantage of newly advertised promotional positions, with Dr. Macharia highlighting a concern that despite reduced qualification requirements, few SNE teachers apply for promotions
She further assured teachers that the TSC would post the 20,000 advertised intern positions by January, urging the National Assembly to allocate additional funds to enable further teacher promotions.
Dr. Macharia praised headteachers for their role in ensuring smooth transitions within schools and for effectively managing the recent Kenya Primary School Education Assessment (KPSEA).
This acknowledgment underscored their commitment to maintaining a stable school environment amid the recent education reforms.
Promotion and Compensation
In the past, the Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) pushed for the Career Progression Guidelines (CPGs) to raise the promotional scope for headteachers from D1 to D5.
In addition, Secretary General Collins Oyuu made a request for more pay from TSC, pointing up that JSS management duties had resulted in an increased workload.