Academic and Professional Requirements for Registration of Teachers
Pursuant to Article 237 (2) of the Kenya Constitution 2010, the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) has a Constitutional mandate to among other functions, register qualified teachers and review the quality of education and training of persons entering the teaching service.
Further, section 23 (2) of the Teachers Service Commission Act, 2012 provides that; “A person shall not engage in the teaching service unless such person is registered as a teacher under the Act”. This requirement applies to both public and private learning institutions.
It is, therefore, notified for public information that requirements for registration as a teacher are provided for in Legal Notice No. 50 of 2016 (The Teachers Service Commission Code of Regulations for Teachers (Amendments), 2016).
Minimum Academic and Professional Requirements for Registration of Teachers
| Grade | Current Requirement | |
| a | ECDE | Certificate i. Minimum of CPE/KCPE plus ECDE Certificate from KNEC. ii. Minimum mean grade D+(Plus) at KCSE and ECDE Certificate from KNEC. iii. Minimum mean grade D (Plain) at KCSE, KNEC proficiency certificate, ECDE Certificate from KNEC. Diploma i. Mean grade C (Plain) at KCSE and ECDE Certificate from KNEC. ii. Mean grade C+ (Plus) and above for University Diploma. iii. Degree Mean grade C+ (Plus) and above |
| b | PTE | i. Minimum grade C Plain in KCSE and above ii. PTE Certificate from KNEC iii. Mean grade of C- (minus) for visually and hearing impaired persons |
| c | Diploma in Education | i. Minimum grade C+( Plus) in KCSE and above and C+ (Plus) in the two subjects specialization ii. At least C (Plain) in English iii. C (plain) in Mathematics for Science-based courses iv. D+( plus) in Mathematics in non-science based courses |
| Diploma in Education for Visually and hearing impaired | i. Minimum grade C (Plain) in KCSE and above. ii. At least C Minus in English iii. C- (Minus) in Mathematics for Science based courses iv. D (Plain) in Mathematics in non-science based courses | |
| e | Bachelor of Education | i. Minimum mean grade C+ (plus) and above or its equivalent ii. C+ (Plus) in two subjects of specialization |
| f | Bachelor of Arts/ Bachelor of Science | i. Minimum grade C+ (Plus) in KCSE and above and C+ (Plus) in the two subjects of specialization ii. Post graduate Diploma in Education (PGDE) |
TSC has lost focus and operating in unrealistic guidelines.Is KNEC the only exam body that must credit all Kenyan teachers?If yes,why must the same policy not be shared to other ISO certified institutions of higher learning which also train teachers but sitting internal exams? Moi university has been offering Diploma in Early chilhood and Primary Education where i happened to train as a student teacher!…most of my colleagues have tried applying to have TSC numbers but in vain ,where does this leave us ?Remember i sat for my Kcse in 1995 where i attained a mean grade of C-minus.Because of the interest i had in the profession(teaching) i did all manner of odd jobs to accomplish my heart desire in 2013…joining Moi university for a diploma in ECPE(early childhood and primary education) where does our fate lies?
I did PTE after achieving a mean grade of C plain,later i enrolled in diploma of ECDE back 2012 thereafter i joined MKU and continued with the same BECD and got a certificate…in doing all these courses i attained more knowledge in hope that promotion will follow what is our fate now?
I like the TSC guidelines for registering teachers on the basis of their form four results, it’s like operating an old steam engine.
I look for a day when the registration of teachers wont be a one off event, in many countries, teachers hold their registration on the basis of their highest academic qualification and evidence based professional development.
I wish we could borrow these practices.
Until then…