JSS Separate Uniforms and Additional Subjects
The issue of uniforms for Junior Secondary School (JSS) has caused quite a stir, with the debate finally being put to rest by Education Cabinet Secretary Ezekiel Machogu.
Machogu declared that the responsibility of uniforms would be left to the parents and school boards of management.
Margaret Onyango, principal of Baraka Primary School, highlighted the difficulty of having two different sets of learners, with different curricula and uniforms, under one roof.
While primary school students wear a red checked uniform, JSS students wear grey trousers and white shirts for boys and navy blue skirts, white blouses, and maroon pullovers for girls.
The head teacher of Kariobangi School, Pamela Mang’oli, explained how the school modified its current uniform to create a distinct uniform for JSS.
In the Presidential Working Party on Education reforms’ recommendations for the structure of JSS, it was suggested that a separate uniform be provided for JSS students, to differentiate them from other learners.
Furthermore, with the new system, Grade Seven learners are now referred to as “students” instead of “pupils,” indicating their elevated status.
They will study 12 compulsory subjects, including new subjects such as Pre-Technical, Integrated Science, Business Studies, Agriculture, Health Science, and Sports and Physical Education, among others.
In addition to the new subjects, JSS also has a broader curriculum with 12 learning areas, several optional subjects, and several new facilities such as Science Laboratories, Computer Laboratories, and Home Science rooms.
All of these are crucial for the learning and teaching process in JSS. The CEO of KICD, Professor Charles Ong’ondo, stated that the JSS curriculum was designed to give learners aged 13 to 15 the opportunity to explore before they settle into their desired pathways.
JSS Separate Uniforms and Additional Subjects
