Grade 9 Learners To Move To Secondary School In 2025
From next year onward, Grade 9 learners are expected to transition to secondary schools as part of a government initiative aimed at addressing the challenges confronting Junior Secondary Schools (JSS).
The issues plaguing JSS, including inadequate facilities, such as classrooms, libraries, and laboratories, as well as a shortage of teachers and insufficient training, have hindered the successful implementation of the Competency-Based Curriculum for the first cohort of learners at this level.
To alleviate these challenges, the government plans to relocate junior secondary education to secondary schools that boast equipped laboratories, well-stocked libraries, and available classrooms, which will become vacant as this year’s KCSE candidates graduate.
This transition is anticipated to not only mitigate the challenges faced in JSS but also enhance the curriculum delivery in primary schools.
Sources within the government suggest that the move to introduce Grade Nine in secondary schools is driven by the desire to strengthen career paths for students and improve the overall quality of education at this level.
Should this proposal be adopted, as advocated by the Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET), Grades Seven and Eight will remain in primary schools while Grade Nine will be integrated into high schools.
KUPPET has voiced concerns over the one-year implementation of Junior Secondary School, citing numerous challenges that warrant discontinuation. Secretary General Akello Misori highlighted the underutilization of resources in secondary schools compared to the struggles faced by primary schools.
Moreover, KUPPET raised alarm over the shortage of qualified teachers in JSS, warning that this issue could persist if Grade 9 remains within the junior secondary system.
President Ruto and Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua discussed these matters during the presentation of the Interim Report of the Presidential Working Party on Education Reform at the State House, emphasizing the importance of addressing these challenges for the betterment of the education sector.
KUPPET further pointed out that many teachers assigned to JSS are inexperienced, requiring time to adapt to their new roles, which hampers effective teaching and learning.
In addition, the absence of expertise in the subjects they teach, stemming from the shortage of teachers, poses a significant hurdle to the success of JSS.
The teachers’ union has also raised grievances regarding the inadequate compensation of JSS teachers, advocating for a comprehensive assessment of their remuneration.
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Grade 9 Learners To Move To Secondary School In 2025
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