Teachers will from December 2024 resume the Teacher Professional Development (TPD) training programme in various centres approved by Teachers Service Commission (TSC).
However this time round the programme will resume with vigour as the Commission gets full support from Kenya Kwanza government.
TSC has today published a tender inviting education institutions wishing to provide training to teachers to apply by 14th, February, 2024.
It is still not clear whether teachers will continue to pay for the controversial programme or government will foot the bills.
During the campaigns now President William Ruto promised to shoulder the cost of teacher training.
This pledge by now the fifth President of the republic was further emphasized through the Kenya Kwanza Education Charter.
“Ensure that all the government initiated capacity building trainings including Teacher Continous Professional Development are undertaken by trainers free of charge,” reads the document.
TPD was introduced two years ago amid protests from teachers with first module, introductory module, started in September 22, 2021, when TSC first launched the programme.
The Commission picked Mt Kenya University, Kenyatta University, Riara University and the Kenya Education Management Institute to offer the professional training to teachers but had promised to increase the service providers through a tender in 2022.
TSC CEO Nancy Macharia had said more institutions and colleges will be invited to offer TPD training to teachers.
Teachers are required to pay sh 6,000 yearly for six modules which take five years each.
Some teachers who attended TPD sessions during evening and night classes were already issued with the certificate after completing all the five areas of the introductory module.
The introductory module covered the following areas.
- Teacher Professionalism
- CBC, Pedagogy and Inclusive Practices
- Assessment
- Comprehensive School Health and Safety
- Instructional Leadership and Financial Literacy
A section of teachers who attended TPD training and were issued with certificates after completing introductory module criticized TSC for failing to recognize them in this years teacher promotion interviews.
This is despite TSC indicating in its Career Progression Guidelines (CPG) that teachers who have taken the TPD modules will be considered for promotion.
In its December and January score sheets for both primary and post primary institution teachers, TSC did not include TPD certification as a recognizable award or certificate.
The Commission had advertised a total of 36,505 vacancies and at least 150,000 primary and post primary school teachers were shortlisted to attend.
A spot check shows that many teachers are yet to join the six-module course which TSC said would form the basis of their promotion and employment.
Majority of teachers cite hard economic times and shrinked payslips which they say make it impossible for them to fund for their training.
In May when she appeared before the Parliamentary Education Committee, TSC CEO Dr. Nancy Macharia explained that due to the dynamic teaching environment, professional teacher development is a prerequisite for effective teaching and learning in the classroom.
TPD involves the career-long processes and related systems and policies designed to enable educators (teachers, administrators, and supervisors) to acquire, broaden, and deepen their knowledge, skills, and competencies in order to effectively perform their work.
“Professional Development is the continuous updating of professional knowledge and improvement of personal competence throughout one’s teaching life,” she said.
Macharia had requested a total of sh 4.2 billion for teacher promotion and TPD program to be allocated in July 2023-2024 budget.
OFFICIAL TENDER NOTICE BY TEACHERS SERVICE COMMISSION
The Teachers Service Commission intends to shortlist Educational Training Institutions to provide consultancy services for the Provision of Teachers Professional Development (TPD) Training and Related Programmes for registered Teachers in Kenya.
Teachers Service Commission now invites eligible and qualified educational training institutions to bid as individual institutions or as consortiums within their regions of operations namely (Nairobi, Western, Nyanza, Rift Valley, Eastern, Coast, North Eastern and Central) in providing the Consultancy Services for the PROVISION OF TEACHER PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT (TPD) TRAININGAND RELATED PROGRAMMES FOR REGISTERED TEACHERS IN KENYA.
Interested Educational Institutions should provide information demonstrating that they meet the required qualifications and relevant experience to perform the Consultancy Services as provided under Terms of Reference of the Expression of Interest Document.
The Expression of Interest document may be downloaded at www.tsc.go.ke or www.tender.go.ke or can be obtained from Teachers Service Commission, P.O. BOX Private Bag, 00100 – Nairobi, Upper Hill, Kilimanjaro Road TSC Building – SCMS Division 1st Floor Podium Wing Attn. Deputy DireCor (SCMS) Email: ddprocuremnet@tsc.go.ke
Complete Expression of Interest document clearly marked “Provision of Teacher Professional Development Training and Related Programmes for registered teachers in Kenya” should be deposited in the Tender Box provided at the TSC House 3rd floor podium wing or be addressed and posted to:
The Secretary/Chief Executive
Teachers Service Commission,
Private Bag, 00100, Nairobi so as to be received on or before 14th, February, 2024 at 10.00am East Africa time.
The bids will be opened in the presence of bidders or their representatives who choose to attend.
NB: Only successful bidders will be invited to submit their proposals