In a move set to redefine the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC), Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Migos Ogamba has proposed a radical restructuring of the “Junior School” model.
The new plan aims to end the confusion surrounding Junior Secondary Schools (JSS) by reclassifying Grades 7 and 8 and shifting Grade 9 into a unified secondary school structure.
The proposals, aimed at resolving the chronic teacher shortages and laboratory deficits, represent the most significant shift since the Presidential Working Party on Education Reforms (PWPER) first domiciled JSS in primary schools.
1. The Reclassification: Junior School vs. Junior Secondary
Under the new proposal, Grades 7 and 8 will drop the “Secondary” tag and be officially reclassified as Junior School.
- The Teaching Force: Instead of relying on specialized secondary teachers, these grades will be handled by primary school teachers under the Career Progression Guidelines (CPG).
- Legal Alignment: This shift aligns with Section 11(e) of the TSC Act (2012), allowing for a more seamless transition from Grade 6 without the “culture shock” of moving to a secondary environment.
2. Grade 9 Joins Senior School
The most impactful change is the recommendation to move Grade 9 to join Grades 10, 11, and 12. This creates a four-year unified secondary block, effectively ending the stay of Grade 9 learners in primary school compounds.
Why Shift?
- Infrastructure: Secondary schools already have the “idle” Form One classrooms (following the end of the 8-4-4 system) and functional laboratories required for Grade 9 science curricula.
- Staffing Efficiency: It allows the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) to pool resources rather than spreading them thin across 20,000+ primary schools.
| Feature | Current Model (2025) | Proposed Reform (2026) | | Grade 7 & 8 | Junior Secondary (JSS) | Junior School | | Grade 9 | Domiciled in Primary | Moved to Senior School | | Teachers | JSS Specialists (Interns) | Primary CPG Teachers & Secondary Specialists | | Focus | General Education | Pathway Foundation (STEM/Arts/Social Sciences) |
3. The TSC Reshuffle: What Teachers Need to Know
The TSC is expected to launch a massive reassignment exercise. Current Junior Secondary teachers including those on internship contracts will be moved to secondary schools to fill vacancies in the Grade 10-12 senior pathways.
Stakeholder Reaction: A Mixed Bag
While the Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) has welcomed moves to utilize secondary infrastructure, experts warn of potential “curriculum dilution.”
“Moving Grade 9 to Senior School makes sense for laboratories, but we must ensure the KICD curriculum for Grade 7 and 8 is actually simplified to match primary-level delivery,” says Dr. Jane Kamau, an education consultant.
Road Ahead
CS Ogamba has pledged that the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (KICD) will finalize the rationalized designs for Grades 7 and 8 by mid-2026. For now, parents of current Grade 8 learners should prepare for a major school change as their children likely move to secondary compounds for Grade 9 in 2026.
