A section of job applicants have expressed their disappointments after the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) released stringent guidelines that may see them automatically being locked out in the upcoming interviews.
Some applicants have threatened to take TSC to court for coming up with terms which they termed as discriminatory.
In the new score sheet released to guide recruitment of teachers in July 2021, TSC directed that 30 marks be awarded to applicants who will provide “evidence of internship service”.
This means intern teachers automatically bag 30 marks up from 10 last year which put them way ahead of other applicants.
However some applicants expressed regrets saying it wasn’t their fault not to work under internship terms.
“I couldn’t apply for internship when the posts were advertised because TSC only wanted those aged below thirty five years to apply. Me am thirty seven years, now TSC is punishing me for no reason. Awarding 30 marks to intern teachers is similar to saying we shouldn’t apply for those vacancies,” said Nyongesa, a teacher in Vihiga.
TSC is also at loggerheads with teachers who graduated with Second Class Upper Division after it awarded same marks with those who graduated with Lower Division.
In the recruitment of 10,000 teachers those who graduated in 2015 or earlier have a head start as they will be scored higher during the interviews.
Teachers who graduated in 2015 or earlier will be awarded 25 marks, as those who left college in subsequent years get five marks less.
At the same time, teachers who are holders of Masters degrees, as well as university graduates who scored First Class Honours, will also be awarded higher scores, according to the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) marking sheet.
Details of the recruitment guidelines show that First Class degree or Masters holders will be awarded 40 points.
Second Class Honours Upper Division degree holders will get 35 marks. Those with a pass will get a maximum of 30 points.
Diploma holders with a distinction will score up to 40 points as those with credit get a maximum of 35. Those with a pass will score a maximum of 30 points.
Overall, Bachelor of Education holders with a mean grade of C (plain) and similar grades in two teaching subjects at KCSE and above and who have taken a diploma in education are eligible to apply.
Also Bachelor of Education holders with a mean grade of C (plain) and a similar grade in two teaching subjects at KCSE and went through the A-Level system will also be considered.
And Bachelor of Education holders with a mean grade of C (plain) and a similar grade in two teaching subjects at KCSE and undertook a bridging/pre-university certificate course before December 31, 2015, will also be given chance.
However, all graduate teachers should have studied a minimum of eight-course units in each teaching subject.
“In addition, the teacher must have studied special methods in their teaching subjects of choice together with a minimum of three months teaching practice,” said Dr Macharia.
The guidelines also say teachers previously employed under contract and whose services were terminated due to inadequate units in teaching subjects and have since obtained enhancement certificates with required units can apply.
“Applicants presenting enhancement certificates or official transcripts in teaching subjects from recognised institutions qualify for employment if they scored at least C+ in the enhanced subjects at KCSE,” the guidelines read.
However, there must be proof they took the units on teaching methods of the subject throughout the undergraduate course.
TSC says applicants whose training is in subjects currently not in the curriculum do not qualify, irrespective of the fact they have undertaken a Post Graduate Diploma in Education (PGDE) or enhancement.
Other factors will be communication ability and presentation skills with one point each.
Having special talents and willingness to participate in co-curricular activities and other duties assigned will also attract some points.
Intern teachers fate
Last year TSC failed to automatically confirm intern teachers instead it awarded them ten marks for serving under internship.
This led to some being locked out as they were unable to battle out other candidates who had superior qualities like year of graduation and quality of academic certificates.
This led to most of the interns work for another more year contract after failing to secure employment on permanent and pensionable terms.
However TSC renewed intership contract for the teachers who missed employment for twelve more months.
TSC also reviewed the salaries paid to the interns which saw primary school teachers pocket kshs 15,000 up from kshs 10,000 which they earned in 2019.
Secondary school intern teachers had their salaries raised to kshs 20,000 from kshs 15,000 they used to earn in the previous year.
TSC has so far only advertised employment on permanent and pensionable terms. Last month the Commission made public its plans of recruiting 5,000 teachers on permanent terms and 6,000 others on internship.
In the July 2021 recruitment advert, TSC will employ 5,000 secondary school teachers where 1,000 of these will be for deployment of p1 graduate teachers to high school.
In addition the Commission has also advertised 2,987 vacancies for Primary and 927 vacancies for Secondary Schools to replace teachers who exited service.
TSC directed interested and qualified candidates to submit their applications online through the Commission’s website, www.tsc. go.ke under ‘Careers’ or teacheronline.tsc.go.ke not later than 12th July, 2021.
There have been calls for TSC to automatically confirm intern teachers without subjecting them to further recruitment interviews.
Below is the TSC official recruitment advert for July 2021.
TSC OFFICIAL ADVERTISEMENT FOR TEACHING VACANCIES JULY 2021
The Teachers Service Commission is declaring 5,000 vacancies in secondary schools to support the 100 percent transition from primary to secondary schools. The teachers recruited will serve on Permanent and Pensionable terms of service.
Interested and qualified candidates should submit their applications online through the Commission’s website, www.tsc. go.ke under ‘Careers’ or teacheronline.tsc.go.ke not later than 12th July, 2021.
A. RECRUITMENT OF SECONDARY SCHOOL TEACHERS (4000 POSTS ).
To qualify for recruitment, a candidate should meet the following basic requirements:
i) Be a Kenyan citizen;
ii) Must be a holder of at least a Diploma in Education;
iii) Must be a registered teacher with Teachers Service Commission.
B. PROMOTION AND DEPLOYMENT OF PRACTISING TEACHERS IN PUBLIC PRIMARY SCHOOLS (1000 POSTS)
To qualify for promotion and deployment to secondary school, a candidate should meet the following basic requirements:
i) Be a Kenyan citizen;
ii) Be a holder of a PI Certificate;
iii) Be a holder of a Bachelor’s Degree in Education with 2 teaching subjects;
iv) Must have attained at least c+ (Plus) mean grade at Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) or its equivalent and C+ (Plus) or it’s equivalent in the two teaching subjects;
v) Must be serving under Teachers Service Commission.
Successful candidates under this category shall be appointed at T-Scale 7, Grade C2 under the Career Progression Guidelines for Teachers and shall be deployed to secondary schools where vacancies exist
C. RECRUITMENT OF PRIMARY SCHOOL TEACHERS (1000 POSTS)
To qualify for recruitment, a candidate should meet the following basic requirements:
i) Be a Kenyan citizen;
ii) Must be a holder of a PI certificate;
iii) Must be a registered teacher with the Teachers Service Commission.
Successful candidates will be posted to serve in any part of the country and not necessarily in the county where they were recruited.
D. GENERAL INFORMATION
Please note that:
i) To qualify for appointment on permanent and pensionable terms of service, a candidate should be eligible to serve for a minimum period of ten (10) continuous years, effective from the date of first appointment as required by law;
i) The Teachers Service Commission Recruitment Guidelines 2020/2021 shall apply;
iii) Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted;
iv) Shortlisted candidates will be required to produce original professional and academic certificates;
v) Successful candidates must not fill more than one Application for Employment Form. Filling of two or more Application for Employment Forms will lead to disqualiif cation;
vi) Manual applications will not be accepted;
vii) Preference will be given to applicants who have not previously been employed by the Teachers Service Commission.
NB: The Commission is also advertising 2,987 vacancies for Primary and 927 vacancies for Secondary Schools to replace teachers who exited service.
Visit the Commission’s website www.tsc.go.ke for details.
The Teachers Service Commission is an equal opportunity employer and persons with disabilities (PWDs) are encouraged to apply.
CAUTION:
The recruitment exercise is free of charge The Teachers Service Commission would wish to forewarn applicants against fraudsters who might extort money from unsuspecting persons purporting to assist in recruitment
REPORTING OF FRAUD
Any fraudulent activity should be reported to the nearest TC office orTeachers Service Commission headquarters through the following telephone lines:
Director Staffing (0202892193) and Deputy Director- Staffing (02028921351) or write to the Commission through the email address dirtm@tsc.go.ke
In addition any such fraudulent activity should be reported to the nearest police station.
Specific information on available vacancies per county/or school is in the Commission’swebsite: www.tsc.go.ke.
SECRETARY/CHIEF EXECUTIVE
TEACHERS SERVICE COMMISSION
as a junior teacher in tsc,,,I also want to register my disbelief on the scoresheeet that was realeased for use in recruiting p1 ones,,,I termed it as unfair,,not considerate,,becoz how can tsc group applicants who graduated before 2010 together with 2015???or even a 2 year range,,,, it’s really very discouraging to those tutors who graduated earlier n were not lucky to serve as interns,,,,pliz tsc it’s my humble request that the scoresheeet b harmonized to allow all participate on a fair ground,,,,
Am very bitter in the way tsc is conducting this recruitment .I don’t see any logic for this independent body to award interns teachers 30mks a head of their counterparts ,let them confirm them permanently instead of causing unnecessary up and downs of other already frustrated teachers, major changes are need in the leadership of tsc,,,.
Some of us applied for internship but still couldn’t be chosen,is it our fault? We’re getting old but no employment, plz TCS review your terms stop killing some of us innocently, fare
Let the interns be given the priority.They won the internship on account of their stay after graduation and they have stuck with meagre salaries while others where running to private schs with better pay
Those of us who graduated 2008 cannot be given same marks with those of 2015. Remember those of 2015 were our pupils .we taught them in primary school.age should be considered.
Tsc you making some of us want to commit suicide because 12 years without employment,then again you are denying us employment in the name of internship,have mercy on us,how long will we truck, anyway am so stressed beyond measure.
TSC is on the right truck to award interns 30 mks since once the I ternship opportunities were advertised many teachers were considering pay but not serving learners. Let interns get their reward for good job.