Nairobi Teachers Call for Review of Workloads Under New School Framework

During a series of consultative meetings held in Nairobi between October 6 and 8, 2025, Junior Secondary School (JSS) teachers raised concerns about excessive workloads and unclear job descriptions under Kenya’s evolving middle school structure. Educators from various sub-counties—including Dagoretti, Embakasi, and Westlands—highlighted challenges such as teaching subjects outside their specialization, managing large class sizes, and balancing administrative duties with instructional responsibilities. Many teachers reported feeling overwhelmed and unsupported, especially those on internship contracts who lacked access to mentorship and psychosocial support.
The push for workload review came amid broader calls for full autonomy of JSS institutions, with teachers arguing that the current framework—where JSS is housed within primary schools—creates confusion and undermines professionalism. Teachers urged the Ministry of Education and the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) to clarify roles, streamline reporting structures, and provide adequate staffing. We are stretched thin, teaching subjects we never trained for, and expected to deliver CBC without proper tools, said a teacher during the October 8 forum.
A related report published on March 18, 2025, by Tuko.co.ke revealed that many JSS teachers were experiencing burnout, marital strain, and professional frustration due to inadequate resources and deployment far from their families. The Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) acknowledged the concerns and called for urgent reforms to protect teacher wellbeing and ensure quality delivery of the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC).
Education stakeholders have proposed solutions including differentiated staffing, subject-specific deployment, and school-based wellness programs. Nairobi County officials are expected to present a policy brief to the Ministry of Education before the end of 2025, outlining recommendations for workload restructuring and institutional autonomy.