NAIROBI,Kenya Sep 29 – The Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) and the Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) have differed over the proposed management structure of Junior Schools, with the two unions taking opposing positions on whether the institutions should operate autonomously from primary schools.

📻 Breaking It Down

The disagreement emerged in West Pokot during a public participation forum by the National Assembly Departmental Committee on Education on proposed changes to education laws.

KUPPET officials called for Junior Schools to be established as autonomous institutions within primary school compounds and headed by teachers trained to teach at the post-primary level.

KUPPET West Pokot Executive Secretary Alfred Kamuto said teachers who manage and supervise Junior School teachers should have qualifications relevant to secondary-level education.

📌 What You Need to Know

He argued that holders of P1 certificates, diplomas in primary education or Early Childhood Development Education qualifications should not be tasked with supervising, appraising or mentoring teachers who hold university degrees and are trained to teach secondary school learners.

“A supervisor must qualify to do whatever they manage. The manager of Junior School must therefore be a degree holder with a secondary option, not just a degree holder,” Mr Kamuto said.

He proposed that Junior Schools remain physically within primary school compounds but operate as autonomous institutions under the leadership of post-primary teachers.

“It is therefore our humble request that Junior School be domiciled within the primary school compound but shall be autonomous and that it be led by a post-primary teacher,” he said.

KNUT, however, backed the model proposed by the Presidential Working Party on Education Reform, which recommended that Junior Schools remain integrated within comprehensive schools.

KNUT West Pokot Executive Secretary Dorcus Lotimen said separating Junior Schools from primary schools would disrupt learners’ transition between levels and limit opportunities for teachers to share knowledge and skills.

📰 Source: Capital FM Kenya