President Ruto Meets JSS Stakeholders, Promises to Address Autonomy Concerns

President William Ruto on Wednesday met a delegation of Junior Secondary School (JSS) teachers and representatives from their associations, where he pledged to address long-standing concerns over the autonomy of the JSS level.

During the meeting at State House, teachers reiterated that the current arrangement—where JSS is placed under primary school administration—has created confusion in management, budgeting, staffing, discipline, and overall accountability. They urged the government to grant JSS full administrative independence, including its own leadership and vote-heads.

In response, President Ruto acknowledged the challenges faced by JSS teachers and promised that the government would provide clear policy direction to resolve the issue. He noted that strengthening the JSS system is a priority and that steps already taken, including the deployment of large numbers of teachers to the level, are part of a broader effort to stabilise the Competency-Based Curriculum.

Ruto urged teachers to allow time for consultation, assuring them that meaningful structural changes would be made. He also emphasized that while the Teachers Service Commission operates independently, the government would continue offering policy guidance to streamline operations and ensure better support for both teachers and learners.

The meeting comes amid months of persistent calls from JSS teachers across the country, who have raised concerns over inadequate resources, unclear reporting structures, limited infrastructure, and uncertainty around contractual terms. Education stakeholders now await government communication on the next steps toward establishing full JSS autonomy.