Primary School Heads to Serve As JSS Principals
Education Cabinet Secretary Ezekiel Machogu has announced the initiation of a process to promote teachers who have been in the same grade for an extended period. Specifically, primary school head teachers will be promoted to the principal level, as the Junior Secondary schools are now within their institutions.
This means that all P1 teachers leading primary schools will be promoted from grade C3 and above to the position of principals in Junior Secondary Schools.
Addressing the Kenya Primary School Heads Association (Kepsha) conference in Mombasa, Machogu emphasized that many primary school head teachers are graduates who deserve these promotions. He also commended head teachers with PhDs in various education fields and encouraged the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) to promote them for other roles, as they have proven their competence.
Primary School Heads to Serve As JSS Principals
Machogu, accompanied by Education Principal Secretary Belio Kipsang, warned high school principals against increasing school fees. The event was attended by TSC Chairman Jamleck Muturi and Konza University Vice Chancellor Elijah Omwenga.
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Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) Secretary General Collins Oyuu praised the CS’s call for promotion and highlighted that many head teachers in primary schools are qualified graduates, including those with PhDs. He also commended primary school teachers for their role in preventing cheating in national examinations, unlike some high schools. Oyuu suggested that promoted headteachers should not be transferred to other counties and defended them against accusations of arbitrary fee increases, placing responsibility on school boards for such decisions.
Prof. Omwenga encouraged teachers to take advantage of the Open University’s flexible entrance qualification program, which allows those who haven’t met the local universities’ minimum requirements to pursue further education.
