Primary school headteachers have firmly opposed a move by Junior Secondary School (JSS) teachers advocating for the transfer of junior secondary management from primary to senior secondary schools.
At the Kenya Primary School Heads Association (KEPSHA) annual conference in Mombasa, attended by more than 15,000 school leaders, KEPSHA National Chairman Fuad Ali emphasized that placing JSS within primary schools was a decision reached through the Presidential Working Party on Education Reform with contributions from all key education stakeholders.
Ali argued that the current model, where JSS operates within primary institutions, is effective, inclusive, and well-functioning. He warned against allowing union politics to interfere with the everyday running of schools.
“There is no leadership vacuum in our schools,” Ali said. “Our voice and freedom are safeguarded under the current comprehensive school system. That is why we now refer to ourselves as the Kenya Comprehensive School Headteachers Association, representing all-inclusive institutions.”
He highlighted that the Grade 9 assessment process has been implemented smoothly under the present system, indicating that management is efficient.
“If there were any issues, the Grade 9 evaluations would not have taken place successfully,” he noted. “From a management standpoint, everything is functioning well.”
During the conference, headteachers also challenged Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba on his recent claim that Sh1.1 billion had been lost to “ghost schools.”
Homa Bay Headteacher Alex Siso dismissed the assertion as inaccurate, questioning the logic behind it.
“Surely, how can a school be called a ghost when it has a headteacher, teachers, and even security personnel? Which planet are we on?” he asked.
