JSS Autonomy Stalled: Ministry Moves to Entrench Comprehensive School Model

Setback for JSS Teachers as Ministry Pushes Forward with Comprehensive Schools

NAIROBI, Kenya — Junior Secondary School (JSS) teachers have been dealt a significant setback in their quest for administrative independence after the Ministry of Education officially formalized the “Comprehensive School” model.

The decision, cemented during the National Conference on Education held at the Lake Naivasha Resort from May 7 to 9, 2026, confirms that Junior School levels will remain under the unified governance of primary school leadership.

Unified Governance: The New Reality

For months, JSS teachers have campaigned for institutional autonomy, arguing that the unique pedagogical and resource needs of junior secondary learners require separate administrative management.

However, the government has moved in the opposite direction.

According to the resolutions adopted by key education stakeholders, Comprehensive Schools will now operate under a single, integrated structure, bringing together Early Childhood Development Education (ECDE), Primary, and Junior School levels.

The core features of this governance model include:

Unified Leadership: Each institution will be led by a single Head of Institution (HoI) and one Board of Management (BoM).

Streamlined Management: Primary school headteachers who have effectively managed these combined units over the past three years will remain at the helm.

Targeted Support: To balance the structure, each Comprehensive School will appoint two deputy headteachers—one specifically dedicated to the Primary section and one to the Junior School section.

The Ministry emphasized that this move is designed to streamline administration, improve coordination, and enhance the implementation of the Competency-Based Education (CBE) system.

A newly proposed Directorate of Comprehensive School Education will oversee these institutions, ensuring standardized operations across the country.

Broad Reforms for a Unified System

The Naivasha conference resolutions, signed by Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba and key Principal Secretaries, introduced several other sweeping changes:

Financial Consolidation: Capitation and school fee structures are set to be harmonized under a single framework to promote equity and efficiency.

Standardized Identity: To ease the financial burden on parents, the conference proposed the adoption of standardized school uniforms across all levels, with institutions allowed to retain their identity through distinct badges. Regulations will be put in place to cap the costs of these uniforms.

Nationalization of Teacher Deployment: In a significant linguistic and policy shift, stakeholders recommended replacing the term “delocalization” with “nationalization” to frame the deployment and placement of teachers as a national service rather than a punitive measure.

Professional Growth: Teacher training will be realigned with long-term national development priorities, ensuring that staffing matches the actual needs of the country.

A Future for Interns and Bursaries

The conference also provided a roadmap for current interns and educational funding.

Teachers currently serving as interns are set to be redesignated as “teachers on contract,” with a clear path toward absorption into permanent and pensionable terms upon completion of their two-year service.

Furthermore, the government is moving toward a consolidated national bursary and scholarship framework that covers Basic Education, TVET, and University levels.

These funds will be managed through the Kenya Education Management Information System (KEMIS) to ensure transparency and accountability in how educational support reaches students.

While the formalization of the Comprehensive School model may be a disappointment to those seeking JSS autonomy, the Ministry maintains that this integrated approach is the most efficient path toward stabilizing the Competency-Based Curriculum and ensuring that schools—regardless of their level—operate as a seamless, cohesive unit.