- The government plans to rename Grades 7 and 8 as Junior School.
- Grade 9 to be moved fully into secondary schools.
- Primary teachers to handle Grades 7 and 8 under new guidelines.
- Reform aims to fix teacher gaps and lab shortages.
Since JSS was placed in primary schools, challenges have continued to pile up. Schools have struggled with limited laboratories, overstretched teachers, and unclear transitions for learners.
The new proposal, if adopted, would mark the most significant shift since the Presidential Working Party on Education Reforms (PWPER) placed JSS under primary schools.
Officials say the changes are meant to smooth the journey into Senior School pathways, while making better use of existing resources.
Under the proposed model, Grades 7 and 8 will no longer be called Junior Secondary. Instead, they will officially fall under Junior School.
Teaching in these grades will be handled by primary school teachers, guided by the Career Progression Guidelines (CPG), rather than relying on secondary-trained specialists.
The move also aligns with Section 11(e) of the TSC Act (2012), allowing learners to move from Grade 6 without the abrupt shift into a secondary school setting.
The biggest change comes with Grade 9, which is set to join Grades 10, 11, and 12 in a unified secondary school system.
This would finally end the placement of Grade 9 learners within primary school compounds.
The government argues that most secondary schools already have unused Form One classrooms after the end of the 8-4-4 system, as well as fully equipped science laboratories needed for Grade 9 studies.
By shifting Grade 9 to secondary schools, the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) would be able to deploy teachers more efficiently instead of spreading them thin across thousands of primary schools.
Secondary schools would handle science-based learning, while primary schools focus on foundational delivery for Grades 7 and 8.
If the proposal goes through, TSC is expected to carry out a large-scale teacher reshuffle.
Current JSS teachers, including interns, would be transferred to secondary schools to support Senior School pathways in Grades 10 to 12.
Teacher unions and education experts have reacted differently. While KUPPET supports the use of existing secondary school facilities, some experts warn of possible learning gaps.
Education consultant Dr Jane Kamau notes that while laboratories are important, the curriculum for Grades 7 and 8 must be simplified to match primary-level teaching.
As discussions continue, the proposal signals a clear shift in how CBC may be delivered, one that could redefine Junior and Senior School learning in Kenya from 2026.
