Education stakeholders push for independent junior secondary schools in proposed legal reforms
Education stakeholders in Kirinyaga County have called for Junior Secondary Schools (JSS) to be established as independent institutions with separate administration, funding and boards of management as Parliament seeks public views on proposed reforms to education laws. The stakeholders said granting JSS autonomy would strengthen accountability, improve learning conditions and create a clearer…
Education officials in Kirinyaga County have advocated for Junior Secondary Schools (JSS) to operate as independent entities with distinct administration, funding, and management structures, as lawmakers seek public input on proposed education reforms. Gatundu North MP Elijah Njoroge Kururia, a member of the National Assembly Education Committee, emphasized that this separation would enhance accountability, learning conditions, and the transition between primary and junior secondary education.
During a public forum at Kirinyaga University on September 18, 2026, Kururia stated that the committee had received consistent support for this proposal during nationwide consultations.
The committee is currently soliciting feedback from teachers, parents, and other education stakeholders on six bills aimed at addressing sector challenges. Kururia highlighted the need for clear institutional distinctions between primary and junior secondary schools to better serve students' needs. He urged President William Ruto and Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba to consider public feedback when drafting legislation.
Meanwhile, Solomon Munene, a representative from the Kenya Private Schools, proposed broader reforms to address issues faced by both public and private institutions. Munene proposed a legal framework for funding and managing co-curricular activities, arguing that current guidelines are insufficient. He also advocated for a revolving education fund through the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model to provide private schools with affordable financing options.
This fund would aid in expanding institutional capacity and alleviate financial burdens on learners and parents. Munene called for extended provisional registration licenses from one year to at least three years to allow schools ample time to implement authorities' recommendations before full registration.
Josphat Kariuki, the Secretary for the Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) in Kirinyaga County, also endorsed the creation of independent JSS institutions. Kariuki noted that junior secondary education has unique administrative and academic requirements that warrant a separate management structure. While acknowledging the potential for shared facilities with primary schools, Kariuki stressed the importance of maintaining distinct administrative oversight for JSS.
These proposals are part of the ongoing public consultation process by the National Assembly Education Committee as it deliberates on legislative changes to Kenya’s education sector.
Written by urgent.news from People Daily Kenya's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
