The JSS Dilemma: Public Schools Battle Shortages, Funding Issues, and More
Public schools nationwide are encountering numerous obstacles in effectively implementing Junior Secondary School (JSS). A stark contrast exists in the implementation of JSS between public schools and private academies.
According to The Standard’s investigation, private schools smoothly transitioned learners from Grade 6 to JSS, while chaos and confusion marred the transition in most public primary schools. This disparity is especially evident in the Coast region.
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At Jomo Kenyatta Primary School in Msambweni, Kwale County, a well-established public primary school, Grade 8 class accommodates 90 learners crammed into one room. The head teacher, Juma Mganga, highlighted the shortage of teachers and classrooms, requesting additional staff.
Contrastingly, Aveon Junior Secondary School, a private academy in Kwale, boasts state-of-the-art facilities, including smart boards, Wi-Fi-connected classrooms, and imported desks, providing a stark contrast to the challenges faced by public schools.
In the Western region, the implementation of the new curriculum reveals sharp inequalities between rural public schools and private academies. Public school head teachers cite delayed funding and a lack of teachers as major challenges disrupting the transition to JSS.
Ruth Minish, director of Fesbeth Academy, a private school, outlined the proactive measures taken, such as building laboratories and training teachers, to ensure a smooth JSS rollout. However, Kakamega Primary School faced challenges, with some classrooms converted into makeshift science laboratories due to a lack of facilities.
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Bungoma DEB Primary School struggles with a shortage of teachers, insufficient textbooks, and inadequate government support for JSS. The school principal, Tobias Khisa, emphasized the need for more teachers and proper funding to address the challenges.
In the Mt Kenya region, a comparison between public and private schools in Nyeri illustrates the difficulties faced by public school learners. Giakanja Primary and Junior Secondary grapple with a lack of facilities, while The Nyeri Good Shepherd Academy showcases well-equipped JSS facilities.
Parents express concerns about the lack of textbooks and the need for practical lesson facilities in JSS institutions. In Rift Valley, teachers discuss challenges, including inadequate numbers of teachers, changing learning areas, and the mismatch between teacher qualifications and subjects taught in JSS.
In Laikipia County, teachers deem the introduction of the JSS system a failure due to insufficient government support and lack of training for teachers. Similarly, in Meru County, teachers express concerns about their competence to implement the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC) for JSS.
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In Murang’a County, JSS institutions face shortages of teachers and textbooks, while education stakeholders advocate for the establishment of science laboratories to enhance practical lessons.
The challenges persist in Nyanza, where schools await textbooks for merged learning areas, reflecting the broader struggle faced by public schools in implementing JSS nationwide.
The JSS Dilemma: Public Schools Battle Shortages, Funding Issues, and More
