The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) officials have confirmed that the program to upgrade P1 teachers by instilling key competencies that will enable them teach junior school classes is still on course.
The Commission plans to roll out the program in November that will see a significant number of primary school teachers getting deployed to teach in junior schools.
TSC already completed document verification exercise in Sub Counties and later carried out actual verification of teachers details at the TSC headquarters.
TSC had ordered document verification for a number of teachers whose details mismatched with Commissions’ records.
However thousands of primary school teachers who scored mean grade of C (plain) in KCSE will be left out of the upgrading plan.
This is after TSC second round of verification that only targeted teachers who scored KCSE mean grade C+ and above.
Initially TSC, through a circular, had requested details of all P1 teachers who scored mean grade C (plain) and above with at least two subjects with grade C+ and above to be captured in an Excel sheet but later retracted.
In the memo dated 18th September, the Commission however only listed teachers who scored KCSE grade C+ and above dealing a blow to KCSE (C plain) teachers who were anticipating to be trained.
Experts argue that lowering the junior school teaching requirement from KCSE mean grade C+ to C (plain) will water down teaching standards.
In the memo TSC listed a total of 38,849 teachers who scored mean grade C+ to A (plain) in KCSE.
Primary school headteachers were required to ensure the teachers details are submitted to the TSC Sub County Directors.
Teachers were allowed to list upto three subjects which they scored grade C+ and above in KCSE.
TSC is planning to upgrade P1 teachers through training sponsored by World Bank so that they can be able to handle Grades 7, 8 and 9.
The upgrading will start in November after completion of national exams and assessments.
The Commission will issue further guidelines on the training after shortlisting selected teachers per Sub County.
Number of P1 teachers selected for the TSC World Bank upgrading program per county
- NUMBER OF TEACHERS PER COUNTY
- Kakamega: 4,169
- Bungoma: 2,208
- Nakuru: 1,672
- Homa Bay: 1,566
- Kisumu: 1,456
- Makueni: 44
- Lamu: 86
- Marsabit: 130
- Wajir: 151
- Isiolo: 153
- Samburu: 165
- Tana River: 215
- Mombasa: 216
- Mandera: 248
- Laikipia: 292
- Taita-Taveta: 307
- Garissa: 313
- Kirinyaga: 358
- Turkana: 369
- Embu: 481
- Kajiado: 506
- Nairobi: 518
- Tharaka-Nithi: 535
- Nyeri: 554
- Kwale: 578
- Nyamira: 634
- Elgeyo Marakwet: 648
- Kilifi: 688
- Nyandarua: 693
- Baringo: 699
- West Pokot: 776
- Uasin Gishu: 815
- Vihiga: 863
- Kiambu: 879
- Busia: 950
- Trans Nzoia: 1,005
- Kisii: 1,006
- Kitui: 1,014
- Kericho: 1,029
- Bomet: 1,061
- Nandi: 1,101
- Machakos: 1,131
- Narok: 1,150
- Meru: 1,259
- Migori: 1,358
- Siaya: 1,390
- Muranga: 1,410
- TOTAL 38,849.