Thousands of students who were admitted into teacher training colleges with lower grades are in for a rude shock after the Attorney-General stopped the Education minster from lowering entry grades.
AG Kihara Kariuki said the mandate of setting entry grades belongs to the Teachers Service Commission (TSC). The students from 17 marginalised counties were admitted to the colleges both for diploma and certificate courses in October.
In an advisory opinion dated November 26, addressed to TSC CEO Nancy Macharia, copied to Education Cabinet Secretary Amina Mohamed and the Kenya National Qualification Authority (KNQA) Director-General Juma Mukhwana, Mr Kariuki said the CS and the authority had no role in determining the entry grade.
“In view of the foregoing analysis, the Commission is by dint of the constitution, the state organ with the constitutional power and mandate to set the minimum qualifications for persons entering the teaching service,” advised Mr Kariuki.
He went on: “This power is encapsulated in the commission’s duty to review the standards of education and training for persons entering the teaching service. There is no law that vests the cabinet secretary or KNQA with power to set such standards and were it to be there, it would be unconstitutional and therefore and therefore null and void to the extent of its unconstitutionality.”
Mr Kariuki added that the overall consequence of the analysis is that the KNQA regulations, to the extent that they purport to define the minimum qualifications for entry into the teaching service are void for being in violation of the constitution.
In September, KNQA said students seeking to study for a diploma in Education need a C plain or C- in the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education exam, down from the previous C+. Meanwhile, those seeking a certificate in Education (popularly known as P1), need a D+, down from a C plain.
between ministry of education & tsc who’s the boss?
According to AG its TSC who has final say
and what about aC-,can he/she get chance in public TTC/private TTC?I have sisters with that grade&she want TTC p1
The mean grade for p1 is C plain
yap nothing less
I did my KSCE last yr 2017 and got C- will I qualify to join p1 course?
as at now we still wait for a clear way forward cause the AG has stopped the ministry from lowering the grade
If now lowering of p1 grade being refused by AG, there is a lot of threat that in the next 3yrs Kenya will have insufficient number of teaches since most students who got C plain joined KMTC kama itakua mbaya let them reduce it to C- in well off areas and D+ in marginalized areas
i agree with you something needs to be done to make teaching lucrative
Can the gov’t give the directives to TTC on the right entry grade to join p1 to avoid this confusion kindly,,,,,,,, us who did KSCSE last yr 2017 are interesting to join p1 but we’ve no directions,,,,,,is it grade C plain C- or D+ kindly can the giv’t tell us
according to AG its supposed to remain at C plain TSC has also remained adamant that it will not lower the grade
Are the subject performed being looked at even if you got a C,C- or D+???
only for those in secondary option