With the integration of Junior School into primary institutions creating complex staffing dynamics, TSC says collaboration, creativity, and shared leadership are key to achieving Competency-Based Education goals.
The merging of primary and Junior Schools in Kenya has created one of the most complex education ecosystems in the country’s history — a system that requires teamwork, communication, and shared leadership to remain functional.
According to the Teachers Service Commission (TSC), the only way comprehensive schools can thrive under the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC) is through stronger collaboration between staff, regardless of age group, subject area, or experience level.
TSC Acting CEO Evaleen Mitei has been vocal about the need for school heads and teachers to abandon siloed working habits and instead build cohesive teams that support teaching and learning holistically.
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This creates a highly diverse workforce with different expectations and teaching philosophies. Without deliberate teamwork, schools risk continuous conflict, fragmented decision-making, and inconsistent learner support.
Mitei emphasized the importance of consultation — a leadership currency she says is essential for trust, transparency, and collective responsibility. When teachers feel heard, she noted, they defend decisions and support implementation more effectively.
She is urging schools to modernize teaching, strengthen ICT integration, and encourage creativity within departments. Continuous capacity building is also key to equipping teachers with fresh skills.
The TSC leadership maintains that the success of CBC depends not only on curriculum design but also on school culture. Learning institutions must create environments where collaboration is the norm and teachers work together to solve challenges.
As more schools transition fully to the comprehensive structure, teamwork may be the critical factor that determines whether Kenya’s CBC vision succeeds or collapses under internal conflict.
