Embu: Junior Secondary teachers affiliated to the Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) in Embu County have decried mistreatment and intimidation from the heads of primary schools.

According to Kenya News Agency, the poor work environment for the Junior Secondary School (JSS) teachers stems from the integration of JSS into primary schools, leading to a rift between them and their supervisors who perceive them as a threat.

The irate teachers argued that this integration has created a toxic work environment due to alleged mistreatment and disrespect from the heads and staff of these schools. Consequently, the teachers, led by KUPPET Branch Executive Secretary Jacob Karura, have petitioned the Government to make Junior Secondary Schools fully autonomous to restore their dignity.

They have also written a petition to the National Assembly, seeking legislation to make JSS fully autonomous institutions. Karura stated that they are prepared to go on strike or move to court to safeguard their careers, as well as the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC), which they argue is being undermined by the current arrangement.

They further argued that merging pre-primary, primary, and junior secondary under a single administration poses a serious threat to the quality of learning. The teachers called for JSS to have its own boards, administration, and governance frameworks to secure the future of the Competency-Based Education (CBE), enhance accountability, and improve educational outcomes.

County JS Interim Chair David Ngari emphasized that the CBE design of 2-6-3-3-3 was built on the premise that each stage of learning should stand independently, and he stated that the merger undermines this principle. Other petitions raised by the teachers include ring-fencing of resources allocated to JSS and the construction and equipping of specialized facilities such as laboratories and ICT hubs.