The Government has renamed all Junior Secondary Schools (JSS) in the country as “Comprehensive Schools.”

Education Cabinet Secretary, Ezekiel Machogu, announced this during the opening of the 2023 Kenya Primary School Head Teachers Association (KEPSHA) event at the Sheikh Zayed Children Welfare Centre in Mombasa County.

“Under this new nomenclature, Primary School Head teachers in Comprehensive Schools have been designated as principals, entrusted with the administration of education in these institutions,” he stated.

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Machogu disclosed that students in Comprehensive Schools will receive capitation grants of Ksh.15,000 annually, while those in senior day secondary schools will continue to receive Ksh.22,000each year.

He assured that there would be no increase in school fees for senior secondary schools, maintaining the existing payment structures.

Dr.Belio Kipsang, the Basic Education Ministry Principal Secretary, addressed the ongoing efforts to reposition headteachers in Comprehensive Schools into new job groups or salary scales.

He commended the dedication of teachers, attributing the success of the 2023 Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) examination administration to their commitment.

“Teachers to sustain their efforts, emphasizing the pivotal role headteachers play in the nation’s educational development,” Dr. Kipsang stated.

National Chairman of KEPSHA, Mr. Johnson Nzioka, urged headteachers to promptly update school signboards to reflect the new designation of “Comprehensive Schools.”

KEPSHA delegates, including KNUT Secretary General Mr. Collins Oyuu, advocated for the confirmation of Comprehensive Schools.

Kenya National Union of Teachers top officials have rejected a proposal by the Presidential Working Party on Education Reforms to have primary school head teachers without degrees demoted.

Knut Secretary General Collins Oyuu said the proposal would be the worst labour practice, and the union will not accept it.

“About 99 per cent of head teachers in primary schools are graduates. If anybody thinks head teachers in primary schools are not graduates, then you are wrong,” said Oyuu.

However, he said if there are head teachers without degrees, the union wants them to be allowed to proceed to study without being demoted.

He said most of the teachers in question are qualified to attain degrees. Oyuu addressed Knut Coast regional officials at Ronald Ngala Primary School in Mombasa county at the weekend.

“If there is any teacher who is not a graduate and is a head teacher, we will insist they be allowed to proceed to university and attain the qualification.”

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He said the union supports other changes proposed by the team, adding that there is a need to scrap Junior Secondary School (JSS) and Senior Secondary School and have it replaced with a comprehensive school.

Oyuu said the comprehensive school should start from Early Child Development Education (ECDE) level to Grade 12, under one umbrella headed by one principal, unlike where JSS is domiciled in primary and then moves to senior secondary school with different head teachers.

He also supported the recommendation to reduce the powers of the TSC and give them to the Ministry of Education, saying there is always conflict between the ministry and TSC.