JSS news today. The proposal to relocate Junior Secondary Schools (JSS) to nearby day secondary schools has been met with a positive response.
The current situation in JSS, which is currently housed within primary schools nationwide,
is a cause for concern and requires immediate attention.
As the current Grade Seven students progress to Grade 8 in 2024, the challenges may worsen.
A significant issue in the current JSS system is the lack of necessary infrastructure.
In fact, most primary schools lack the required facilities for practical activities,
which are essential under the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC).
This deficiency in practical resources poses a challenge to the students’ learning and achievement.
JSS news today
Another critical problem is the shortage of teachers in JSS schools.
The current recruitment of new teachers does not adequately address the growing student population,
as the 100 percent transition from Grade 6 requires more teacher recruits.
This situation is further complicated by the fact that over 40,000 teachers serving under internship have not been absorbed by the government.
Many of these intern teachers are already demotivated due to heavy workloads and government deductions from their monthly stipends.
Furthermore, the poor state of most primary schools’ environments has demoralized teachers.
This is exacerbated by the fact that many of these teachers were trained to instruct students between the ages of 15 to 20.
JSS teachers have reported strained relationships with school heads, often stemming from issues related to inferiority complexes.
To address these challenges, it is suggested that the government relocate these schools to nearby secondary schools.
This would provide students with better access to laboratory services and could result in cost savings, as secondary school teachers could also offer their expertise.
JSS news today
Additionally, the funds that might have been used to construct new JSS buildings could instead be used to employ more teachers
facilitating the effective implementation of the curriculum.
This relocation would likely alleviate some of the pressing issues faced by JSS institutions, improving the overall quality of education in Kenya.