The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) has changed the registration requirements for people seeking the teaching service.

According to TSC new changes, one must have scored at least a B- in both Mathematics and English in order to study bachelors in education at the university.

In addition the student must have scored at least C+ in the two teaching subjects and at least C+ as the overall mean grade in KCSE.

Previously, candidates were only required to have scored a minimum of C+ as an overall mean grade in KCSE and a minimum C+ in the two teaching subjects to pursue education degree.

The Commission has also banned bridging courses which were previously used to fill gaps for those who did not meet the minimum requirements.

Bridging courses will no longer be accepted to replace the minimum academic requirements.

For students pursuing Diploma in Education (Secondary option) at least a D+ in Mathematics and C in English is mandatory. In addition one must also have at least C+ as the overall mean grade in KCSE.

However these changes will not affect the current student teachers ongoing with their studies in various colleges and universities.

Colleges and universities are required to align themselves with these changes which take effect next year.

TSC will publish a new registration policy for people seeking to be registered and issued with a TSC number.

The changes are a plan by the government to regulate the number of teachers churned out by colleges and universities which have created unemployment crisis.

The government through TSC is planning to export a total of 354,234 unemployed teachers next year to work abroad in seventeen identified countries. According to TSC this plan is targeting unemployed teachers.

TSC CEO Dr. Nancy Macharia said all registered teachers with Certificate, Diploma or Degree from a recognized institution are eligible to work abroad.

Macharia said seventeen countries; USA, Ireland, Germany, France, Canada, Vietnam, Thailand, Taiwan, South Korea, Russia, Spain, China, Kuwait, Japan, United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Botswana have requested our teaching services.

The Commission has already developed a policy framework and guidelines for the thousands of unemployed teachers to work overseas.

According to CEO Nancy Macharia, the policy has been developed in response to requests by foreign governments for export of Kenyan teachers.

“Our research and consultations with the State Department of Diaspora Affairs confirm that there is high demand for Kenyan teachers in USA, Ireland and Germany, especially those who can teach English. Then there is South Africa for those who can teach Kiswahili, Thailand and other Middle East Countries. The policy is a targeted response to this market demand,” Ms Macharia said.

TSC will provide unemployed teachers with guidelines and application link to apply online once the exercise is officially rolled out.

According to the commission, as at May 2024, it had on its register a total of 714,234 teachers, with 360,000 under employment by the TSC on a permanent basis.

“Other countries that are targeted for teacher exports include Kuwait, Japan, and the United Arab Emirates, which require special needs education teachers and Qatar (Islamic religious education and science teachers). Kiswahili teachers are needed in China, France, Botswana and Japan,” Ms Macharia said.

She added that those qualified to teach English are needed in France, Canada, Vietnam, Taiwan, South Korea, Russia, Spain, China, and the UAE.

The placements abroad will be through government-to-government labour export initiatives.

“The commission has received several delegations asking for partnership for the export programme. This necessitated the development of a policy framework to guide the process. As a government institution, TSC will work closely with the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Labour, who will be responsible for exploring the markets for teacher export,” Ms Macharia said.

The selection criteria will define the essential skills a teacher has, qualifications, and experiences required for a specific international teaching job.

To qualify for placement abroad, a teacher must be a Kenyan citizen and completed training and graduated with a degree, diploma, or certificate in education from a recognised institution and meet other requirements of registration by the TSC.

The teacher must be registered by the TSC and meet the requirements of Chapter Six of the Constitution.

The teacher must also meet any additional requirements set by the host country, such as specialised training, professional certifications, language proficiency, or other specific job requirements.

“The commission will liaise with respective ministries and agencies to provide an orientation programme for the selected teachers that will cover issues that include security, medical, transport, terms of engagement, remuneration, career guidance and development, cultural sensitivity, transparency and accessibility, language skills (where applicable), and specific educational practices prevalent in the host country,” the policy document reads.

The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) has changed the registration requirements for people seeking the teaching service.

According to TSC new changes, one must have scored at least a B- in both Mathematics and English in order to study bachelors in education at the university.

In addition the student must have scored at least C+ in the two teaching subjects and at least C+ as the overall mean grade in KCSE.

Previously, candidates were only required to have scored a minimum of C+ as an overall mean grade in KCSE and a minimum C+ in the two teaching subjects to pursue education degree.

The Commission has also banned bridging courses which were previously used to fill gaps for those who did not meet the minimum requirements.

Bridging courses will no longer be accepted to replace the minimum academic requirements.

For students pursuing Diploma in Education (Secondary option) at least a D+ in Mathematics and C in English is mandatory. In addition one must also have at least C+ as the overall mean grade in KCSE.

However these changes will not affect the current student teachers ongoing with their studies in various colleges and universities.

Colleges and universities are required to align themselves with these changes which take effect next year.

TSC will publish a new registration policy for people seeking to be registered and issued with a TSC number.

The changes are a plan by the government to regulate the number of teachers churned out by colleges and universities which have created unemployment crisis.

The government through TSC is planning to export a total of 354,234 unemployed teachers next year to work abroad in seventeen identified countries. According to TSC this plan is targeting unemployed teachers.

TSC CEO Dr. Nancy Macharia said all registered teachers with Certificate, Diploma or Degree from a recognized institution are eligible to work abroad.

Macharia said seventeen countries; USA, Ireland, Germany, France, Canada, Vietnam, Thailand, Taiwan, South Korea, Russia, Spain, China, Kuwait, Japan, United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Botswana have requested our teaching services.

The Commission has already developed a policy framework and guidelines for the thousands of unemployed teachers to work overseas.

According to CEO Nancy Macharia, the policy has been developed in response to requests by foreign governments for export of Kenyan teachers.

“Our research and consultations with the State Department of Diaspora Affairs confirm that there is high demand for Kenyan teachers in USA, Ireland and Germany, especially those who can teach English. Then there is South Africa for those who can teach Kiswahili, Thailand and other Middle East Countries. The policy is a targeted response to this market demand,” Ms Macharia said.

TSC will provide unemployed teachers with guidelines and application link to apply online once the exercise is officially rolled out.

According to the commission, as at May 2024, it had on its register a total of 714,234 teachers, with 360,000 under employment by the TSC on a permanent basis.

“Other countries that are targeted for teacher exports include Kuwait, Japan, and the United Arab Emirates, which require special needs education teachers and Qatar (Islamic religious education and science teachers). Kiswahili teachers are needed in China, France, Botswana and Japan,” Ms Macharia said.

She added that those qualified to teach English are needed in France, Canada, Vietnam, Taiwan, South Korea, Russia, Spain, China, and the UAE.

The placements abroad will be through government-to-government labour export initiatives.

“The commission has received several delegations asking for partnership for the export programme. This necessitated the development of a policy framework to guide the process. As a government institution, TSC will work closely with the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Labour, who will be responsible for exploring the markets for teacher export,” Ms Macharia said.

The selection criteria will define the essential skills a teacher has, qualifications, and experiences required for a specific international teaching job.

To qualify for placement abroad, a teacher must be a Kenyan citizen and completed training and graduated with a degree, diploma, or certificate in education from a recognised institution and meet other requirements of registration by the TSC.

The teacher must be registered by the TSC and meet the requirements of Chapter Six of the Constitution.

The teacher must also meet any additional requirements set by the host country, such as specialised training, professional certifications, language proficiency, or other specific job requirements.

“The commission will liaise with respective ministries and agencies to provide an orientation programme for the selected teachers that will cover issues that include security, medical, transport, terms of engagement, remuneration, career guidance and development, cultural sensitivity, transparency and accessibility, language skills (where applicable), and specific educational practices prevalent in the host country,” the policy document reads.