Junior Secondary School (JSS) is the educational level in (competency based education course curriculum) between Upper Primary and Senior School (SS), consisting of Grades 7, 8, and 9. JSS students range in age from 12 to 15 years old, which coincides with rapid physical, mental, and emotional growth and development.

JSS is relatively new in Kenya in the new  competency based education course curriculum, and it has thrown parents and students into a frenzy of conflicting emotions about what it means for them. As they adjust to new academic, social, and environmental requirements, students and parents have experienced a mix of enthusiasm, worry, and adjustments.

JSS students are in the process of developing their autonomy, which includes increasing self-discovery and identity construction. These are youngsters who are forming ideas about their learning, the decisions that are made concerning them, and their growth. Socially, their circles are broadening, and their classmates are beginning to wield more power than their parents, siblings, and close family. They are physically at the beginning of puberty, with different hormonal and physical changes that drive them into the struggles of adolescent. Many JSS pupils are also beginning to experiment with digital platforms and the internet.

Needless to say, the JSS child still requires a great deal of parental attention and supervision to help them progress in their developmental and academic journey. Collaboration between parents and other stakeholders is necessary to promote their overall development. The JSS curriculum at CBC is specifically designed to assist the JSS learner’s entire development. It is broad in scope in order to allow pupils to discover their own skills, personalities, and interests during these formative years as a foundation for selecting subjects in senior school depending on career paths of interest. It also provides comprehensive career counselling to pupils, allowing them to select their pathways and courses in senior high school.

Many parents, however, are still uninformed their new responsibilities as JSS parents. CBE Internationals PEE JSS empowers parents of JSS students through targeted trainings to support their children in the best way possible for each learner’s personalities, abilities, and interests.