Qualifications for Primary Teachers to Teach in Junior Secondary

The introduction of Competency Based Curriculum, CBC has shifted most work to secondary schools. Consequently, it has led to drastic drop in workload in primary schools.

In 2023 when Grade 6 will move to Grade 7, the current Class Six learners under the 8-4-4 system will also be enrolled to Form One after sitting the Kenya Certificate of Primary Education Examinations (KCPE).

The junior secondary school will include Grades 7, 8 and 9. The pioneer pupils under the new 2-6-3-3-3 Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC) system will transition to junior secondary school in 2023 after sitting the Grade 6 national examinations.

The Ministry of Education has since selected several primary schools for upgrading to junior secondary schools. Those with better infrastructure will be upgraded to host Junior Secondary School (JSS) wing.

Under-enrolled schools and those in close proximity will be merged and either one of the institution’s infrastructure improved. Some schools will have a combination of both primary and junior secondary in the same compound.

To cater for this insufficiency, the ministry of education together with Teachers Service Commission has opt to deploy qualified primary teachers to junior secondary. Senior Secondary will be handled entirely by the current secondary school teachers.

Primary school teachers with the following qualifications will qualify to teach junior secondary.

• Diploma and Degree in Special Needs Education
• Diploma and Degree in Early Childhood Development Education
• Diploma in Education (Primary option)
• Diploma in Education, Secondary option
• Degree in Education (Secondary option) but lacking C+ at KCSE or C+ in teaching subjects

Also in a report titled Status Report on Teacher Preparedness for Competence Based Curriculum Implementation which was presented before the Parliamentary Committee on Education, TSC indicated that it will deploy P1 teachers to junior secondary with the following qualifications.

• Diplomas,
• Higher Diplomas,
• Under graduate Degrees,
• Post-graduate Diplomas,
• Masters and PHDs to teach at junior secondary schools (JSS).