The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) has introduced a new leadership model that will see each comprehensive school headed by a principal and two deputies for primary and junior secondary sections.
The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) has unveiled a new leadership framework aimed at improving the management of Kenya’s primary and junior secondary schools. The structure is part of the government’s broader plan to transition to Comprehensive Schools, as proposed by the Presidential Working Party on Education Reforms (PWPER).
According to TSC Director of Staffing Antonina Lentoijoni, each comprehensive school will be headed by a principal, assisted by two deputy principals — one responsible for the primary section and the other for the junior secondary division.
This new framework seeks to address administrative conflicts that have arisen since the introduction of the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC), which placed junior schools within primary institutions.
Ms. Lentoijoni, while addressing senators in Mombasa, said that the TSC has already appointed one junior school teacher in every institution to act as a deputy principal in charge of the junior section. However, she acknowledged challenges in command structure, especially where junior school teachers resist the authority of primary-trained headteachers.
“This is a transitional period. Until the laws recognize comprehensive schools, primary headteachers will continue to oversee junior schools,” she explained.
Education stakeholders have hailed the move as a practical step toward creating a cohesive administrative model that ensures smoother coordination between the two levels. The new structure is also expected to improve communication, streamline supervision, and enhance resource sharing between primary and junior secondary sections.
The leadership reform aligns with Education CS Julius Ogamba’s vision of an integrated education system that supports holistic learning and efficient management.
Analysts say the TSC’s comprehensive model could be a game changer in addressing leadership gaps, improving teacher morale, and ensuring the sustainability of CBC reforms across the country.
