TSC seeks to revise entry qualification grades for teachers

The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) has proposed amendments to the TSC Act and Code of Regulation for teachers to establish a qualifications framework for entry into the teaching profession.

The proposed changes include setting minimum grades for diploma and degree courses, which will ensure teachers meet global standards and address numeracy and literacy challenges.

The Commission has proposed setting a mean grade of C (plain) in the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) exam as the minimum requirement for enrollment in a diploma course in teaching, and a C+ (plus) for a degree course.

Additionally, TSC has suggested that teachers taking a diploma course should have a minimum of C- (minus) in English and at least D plain in Mathematics.

Previously a teacher was required to at least have a mean grade of D+ (plus) in KCSE exams to enrol for a certificate course also known as Primary Teacher Education (P1) in primary teaching which TSC seeks to scrap.

For a Degree in Secondary Education, one was required to at least have a C plain.

TSC CEO Nancy Macharia said amending the Act is essential to establish a qualifications framework, aiming to prevent frequent revisions of entry standards.

She emphasised the significant impact of the Commission as the largest employer in the region on the education sector.

"We are currently in the process of reviewing the TSC Act and the Code of Regulation for teachers to drive reforms. We are engaging with all education stakeholders to reach a consensus," Macharia explained during a media engagement forum in Nairobi.

TSC legal Labour and Industrial Relations Director Cavin Anyuor argued that the teaching profession plays a crucial role in producing professionals in various fields through proper training.

Comparison

He emphasised the need to review entry grades, comparing them with those of other professions such as Medicine, Law, and Engineering.

“The question is that when it comes to teaching, stakeholders want extremely low grades and when it comes to other professions the grades are very high and nobody is complaining. The reverse of it is that teaching is the mother of all these professions,” Anyuor said.

"The entry grades for teaching are a subject of debate, with stakeholders advocating for their reduction, enhancement, or retention. We must examine these requirements in comparison to other professions and engage in a rational discussion."

“There is a clamour that the entry grades be either reduced, enhanced or retained as they are. We need to interrogate the entry requirements and look at other professions in the country and compare those of the teaching profession with others like Medicine, Law and Engineering and we can have a sober debate.”

He further explained that TSC aims to ensure teaching graduates are globally competitive while adapting to changes in curriculum and teaching methods.

He said TSC is considering exporting excess teachers to other countries to address the surplus of teachers in Kenya.

“We have started engaging with the key stakeholders for exporting the teaching resource because we have a surplus of teachers in the country. We are engaging the Ministry of Labour, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and other relevant government agencies so that our teachers can go and teach English in Germany,” Anyuor said.