A proposal for the establishment of Junior Secondary Schools (JSS) in every primary institution in Kenya has gained support from Members of Parliament (MPs). This was after Hon. Geoffrey Ruku, MP (Mbeere North) moved a Motion on Wednesday, calling on the Ministry of Education to develop a comprehensive policy and funding plan for JSS.

Hon. Ruku while moving the Motion expressed concern that recent Government guidelines requiring JSS to be established in select primary schools had caused confusion and rendered classrooms for classes seven and eight redundant.

“This arrangement compels students to travel for long distances to access institutions where JSS are based, which is not good, ” said Hon Ruku.

He added: “Communities have over the years continuously established learning institutions within their localities to address the inadequate shortage of physical facilities. It is wrong to negate the gains communities have made by having JSS’s domiciled in a few schools.”

During the debate, Members noted that the roll-out of the new Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC) system of education was rushed.

 Hon. Yusuf highlighted the challenges faced by JSSs in his Kamukunji Constituency and across the country, which include inadequate facilities and an acute shortage of teachers to attend to the learners.

“It will be important to come up with a clear policy and funding plan so that our level of education in the country doesn’t deteriorate,” said Hon. Yusuf, who seconded the Motion.

While making his contribution, Hon. Shabbir criticized the idea of having JSSs in primary schools, stating that the stakeholders involved did not fully consider the future of education. He questioned who JSS teachers in primary schools would report to, suggesting that knee-jerk decisions should not be made in matters as important as children's education.

“ The callous manner the stakeholders have been looking at the future of our Education is shocking. There is no way you can have JSS students in a primary school. The learners need to be in a secondary school,” said Hon Shabbir.

Hon. Komingoi also stressed the importance of addressing the distance learners would need to cover to access JSS schools, as this factor could critically affect the performance of students in exams and their well-being.