The Ministry of Education has announced plans to merge primary and junior schools into one comprehensive system under a single head, following the Presidential Working Party on Education Reforms (PWPER) recommendations.
Kenya’s education system is set for a major transformation after the Ministry of Education adopted recommendations to merge primary and junior secondary schools into one unified institution.
Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Migos Ogamba confirmed that the government has accepted proposals from the Presidential Working Party on Education Reforms (PWPER) to establish Comprehensive Schools managed under a single administrative structure.
Under the new model, each comprehensive school will be led by one principal assisted by two deputy principals — one overseeing the primary section and the other managing the junior secondary level.
Mr. Ogamba told the Senate that junior secondary teachers will continue to operate under primary school headteachers, who are currently serving as acting principals for junior schools.
This move aims to streamline leadership, strengthen accountability, and enhance coordination in curriculum delivery. However, the Education CS noted that full implementation will require legal amendments to formalize the new structure.
The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) has already begun operationalizing the proposal by appointing one junior secondary teacher in each school to serve as acting deputy principal, signaling the beginning of the transition.
TSC Director of Staffing Ms. Antonina Lentoijoni acknowledged that the transition phase has presented challenges, particularly regarding respect and hierarchy between primary and junior school teachers. “This is a transitional period. Before the laws are enacted, primary headteachers remain in charge of both sections,” she explained.
The Ministry maintains that the merger will eliminate duplication in management, improve resource utilization, and create a unified leadership system to better implement the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC).
Education experts have praised the move as a step toward achieving an efficient, learner-centered system aligned with Kenya’s education reform agenda.
