Hundreds of primary school teachers seeking deployment to Junior School (JS) have been locked out following new rules announced by their employer.
The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) has ruled out graduate teachers with a Bachelor of Education (Primary Option) from teaching in Junior Secondary School (JS), sparking a heated debate among education stakeholders.
In a circular to regional and sub-county directors of education, TSC Acting Chief Executive Officer Everleen Mitei said the changes are meant to ensure subject specialization in Junior School, which is considered equivalent to lower secondary education under the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC).
“Teachers with a B. Ed (Primary Option) do not meet the threshold to teach in Junior School,” Ms. Mitei stated.
Who Qualifies for JS Deployment?
According to the TSC guidelines, eligible teachers must:
Hold at least a Diploma in Education with a minimum KCSE grade of C+,
Attain C+ in two teaching subjects offered in the JS curriculum or its equivalent,
Have two principal passes and one subsidiary at A-level (for those under the old system).
Teachers who scored C plain in KCSE but later pursued a diploma and degree in education also qualify. Additionally, those who bridged before December 31, 2015, and obtained C+ or higher in two teaching subjects can be considered.
The TSC revealed that out of 3,718 applications from primary school teachers seeking redeployment, only 1,436 met the new requirements.
“Enclosed with this circular is the list of the 1,436 teachers. Upon receipt, you are required to further vet and deploy qualified teachers to Junior School in accordance with the guidelines provided,” Mitei said.
Verification and Promotion Guidelines
Deployment letters will be issued by sub-county directors for local postings, while county or regional directors will handle transfers beyond sub-counties. Officials have been advised to consider proximity to schools, gender balance, and subject combinations to prevent duplication.
Teachers with Special Needs Education (SNE) qualifications will be placed in special junior schools.
The circular also introduced a promotion pathway:
Teachers in Grade B5 and C1 with a Bachelor’s degree will move to Grade C2,
Those in B5 with a diploma will advance to Grade C1,
Teachers in C2 with a degree and promoted before August 31, 2022, will move to Grade C3.
Unions Push Back
The decision has triggered sharp criticism from unions. Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) Deputy Secretary-General Moses Nthurima faulted the move, arguing that Junior School is closer to secondary education and should be handled by graduate teachers.
“JS is essentially a high school. Thousands of jobless graduate teachers are available for these positions. Camouflaging primary school teachers as qualified for JS is unacceptable,” Nthurima said.
He emphasized that teaching methods differ between primary and secondary levels, adding that primary teachers specialize in children under 12, while Junior School learners require a different pedagogical approach.
According to KUPPET, Kenya has about 500,000 unemployed graduate secondary school teachers.
On the other hand, Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) Secretary-General Collins Oyuu described the TSC directive as rushed and discriminatory.
“They have the competency required to teach in JS. Even untrained teachers have sometimes performed better than trained ones. The decision will worsen the staffing crisis in Junior School,” Oyuu said, adding that 300,000 trained teachers are currently jobless.
Teachers Cry Foul
Teachers who have been handling Junior School classes for nearly a year expressed disappointment.
“There is prestige in teaching JS learners. We had hoped for promotion after handling secondary-level students. It is shocking that the commission does not want to see us teach in Junior School. It feels like we have been used and dumped,” said a teacher in Mombasa.
Why the TSC Stands Firm
Despite the uproar, TSC has maintained that the changes are necessary to ensure subject specialization, quality teaching, and address teacher shortages in line with CBC requirements.
“This move is aimed at encouraging specialization, prioritizing experience, and ensuring Junior School learners get competent instructors,” Mitei explained.
The battle lines are drawn as unions prepare for talks with TSC to resolve the impasse that could affect the future of thousands of teachers and Junior School learners.
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