Primary school educators holding a variety of diplomas and degrees are urging the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) to acknowledge their qualifications for roles in junior secondary schools. The TSC has recently initiated a process to assign P1 teachers to instruct Grades 7, 8, and 9. However, the Commission has imposed strict criteria for those aspiring to transition to these junior classes.
In this deployment initiative, the TSC requires practicing PTE teachers to possess a degree in a secondary education option, with a minimum grade of C+ in the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) and at least C+ in two teaching subjects. This high bar presents a significant challenge for many P1 teachers who have pursued further education and earned various accolades.
Those impacted by these stringent requirements include primary school teachers who hold:
– A degree in a secondary education option with at least C+ in two teaching subjects and a C in KCSE, but lack a diploma in secondary education.
– A degree in primary education with C+ and above in KCSE.
– Diploma certificates in Early Childhood Development Education (ECDE).
These teachers have voiced their frustrations after investing substantial sums in their education, only to find their qualifications disregarded by the TSC. Currently, only those with degrees in secondary education and diplomas in Special Needs Education (SNE) are receiving promotions.
Although the TSC initially indicated that it would promote teachers with various diplomas and degrees to teach in junior secondary schools, it later reversed this decision. In the past, the TSC automatically promoted teachers upon submission of their academic certificates, issuing acknowledgment letters that led to changes in job groups and salary scales. However, in January 2014, the TSC abolished the Schemes of Service (SoS) that facilitated automatic promotions, replacing it with Career Progression Guidelines (CPG), which has resulted in widespread job stagnation.
The Commission has shifted its promotion criteria away from academic qualifications to other assessment tools, such as the Teacher Professional Appraisal Development (TPAD) system. Retired TSC CEO Nancy Macharia emphasized that performance will play a crucial role in teacher promotions. The TSC is set to launch a Teacher Professional Development (TPD) program in December, aiming to alleviate concerns regarding promotions.
Currently, a verification process is underway for over 3,000 shortlisted teachers. Although the TSC aimed to deploy 6,000 PTE teachers to junior secondary schools, only 3,693 applications were received. The online application process for qualified P1 teachers opened on January 13.
The deployment of primary school teachers to junior secondary is part of the TSC’s broader strategy to combat job stagnation. The Commission has indicated that it requires a total of 72,422 teachers to address the current shortage in junior secondary schools, which stands at 98,261, with a total need of 149,350 teachers for Grades 7, 8, and 9. Presently, the TSC has employed 76,928 teachers in junior secondary, accounting for 51.5% of the required number, including 48,550 teachers on permanent and pensionable terms and 8,378 P1 teachers deployed in 2023 and 2024.
The government has allocated 4.8 billion shillings for the TSC to recruit 20,000 JSS teachers on internship contracts in January. In a recent statement, the Commission outlined the vetting process for applicant teachers.
The TSC has received 3,693 deployment requests from qualified primary school teachers for junior secondary positions. The following guidelines have been issued for the vetting process:
A) Qualifications
To be eligible for deployment to junior secondary, primary school teachers must meet the following criteria:
– Hold an active registration with the TSC.
– Be employed as a primary school teacher by the TSC.
– Not be currently under interdiction or facing disciplinary action.
– Possess at least a Diploma in Education with a minimum of C+ at KCSE (or equivalent) and C+ in two teaching subjects offered in the current school curriculum (under either the 8-4-4 or Competency-Based Education systems) or two principal passes and one subsidiary pass at “A” Level.
– Those with a minimum of C (plain) at KCSE (or equivalent) and a Diploma in Education, along with a Bachelor’s Degree in Education, qualify.
– Holders of a Bachelor of Education (Primary Option) are ineligible.
– Must express interest in being deployed to Junior Secondary School and appear on the list provided by Headquarters.
B) Vetting
Sub-County Directors will invite candidates for document verification. Candidates must present the following during the verification:
– Original and copies of their degree/diploma certificates.
– Original and copies of official academic transcripts.
– Original and copy of SNE qualifications (if applicable).
– Original and copy of KCSE certificates (or equivalent).
– A current payslip.
– A declaration from the Head of Institution confirming the teacher’s current employment status and that they are not under interdiction or facing disciplinary action.
C) Submission of Documents to TSC Headquarters
After the vetting process, the following documents must be submitted to the Director of Staffing by County Directors/Regional Directors in Nairobi:
– Minutes from the Sub-County meeting verifying the documents of all applicants, signed by the Sub-County Staffing Chairperson and Secretary.
– Minutes from the County meeting verifying the Sub-County list of all applicants vetted, signed by the County Director Chairperson and Secretary.
– A list of all vetted teachers with STATUS and REMARKS columns duly filled.
The remarks column should justify each teacher’s status, e.g., indicating if a teacher is Not Qualified and the reason, such as having a C- in KCSE. The verified list should be submitted in an editable MS Excel format to the Director of Staffing via dirstaffing@tsc.go.ke.
Note: Vetted documents of successful applicants for each sub-county should be securely stored by the Sub-County Directors pending further instructions. No changes should be made to the provided list, except for filling in the status and remarks columns.