The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) is seeking Sh4.3 billion to promote teachers and to fund the Teacher Professional Development (TDP) programme.

 Of the money, Sh2.2 billion will go towards promotion of about 14,000 tutors who have stagnated in the same job group over the years as well as those who have attained higher qualifications while Sh2.1 billion will fund the TPD programme.

 In a presentation made before the National Assembly’s education committee that is scrutinizing the 2023/2024 budgets, the commission said it also requires more money to recruit 20,000 interns as well as implement the comprehensive medical cover for teachers.

 “The Commission has prepared the 2023/24 financial year and the medium-term estimates guided by its strategic plan, the Medium Plan, the Vision 2030 and, the National priorities as articulated in the Kenya Kwanza Manifesto. One of the critical issues addressed by the Manifesto is the need to expand access to quality services in Health, Education and appropriate safety nets for vulnerable populations,” said Macharia.

 TSC Chief Executive Nancy Macharia told the committee that a number of teachers have stagnated in one job group for a long time leading to demotivation and low productivity.

 “This state of affairs in turn affects the provision of quality education to learners. TSC requires Sh2.2 billion to carry out the promotion of teachers in different job cadres,” said Macharia.

 The move comes after the commission last month advertised promotions for over 14,000 senior teachers in line with Career Progression Guidelines (CPG).

 Of these, 13,713 are principals, deputy principals, senior masters, secondary teachers, head teachers and deputy head teachers in secondary and primary schools.

 The highest vacancies in this category are Deputy Head Teacher II for regular primary schools, which have 7,720 posts.

 TSC is also expected to promote 2,733 head teachers for regular primary schools, 1,330 Secondary teacher I, 725 Deputy Principal II, 602 principals for regular schools, 224 Deputy Principal III for secondary schools and some 208 Senior Master II

On TPD, 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.

  With regards to the recruitment of 20,000 intern teachers, Macharia explained that this is aimed at reducing the shortage of teachers in public schools as well as ensure that learners receive quality education

 “This intervention alone will have a number of spiral effects; one it will create employment for the many young people who are currently unemployed secondly, improve the quality of education and also improve the living standard of many households across the country,” she added

 On the comprehensive medical cover for teachers and their dependents, she said that they need funds to implement the said program.

 Currently she said the medical scheme covers more than one 1,000,000 members across the country and is part of expanding access to quality health care envisaged in the Manifesto.

 Meanwhile Macharia also said that they require another Sh300 million to finance various programs and activities at the county and sub-county levels.

 According to Macharia, TSC county and sub-county offices are very key in the implementation of Teacher Performance Appraisal and Development (TPAD) and Performance Contract implementation and oversight as required by section 11(c) of the TSC Act 2012.

 “They play a big role in the timely dispensation of pending discipline cases and the implementation of teaching standards,” she said.

The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) is seeking Sh4.3 billion to promote teachers and to fund the Teacher Professional Development (TDP) programme.

 Of the money, Sh2.2 billion will go towards promotion of about 14,000 tutors who have stagnated in the same job group over the years as well as those who have attained higher qualifications while Sh2.1 billion will fund the TPD programme.

 In a presentation made before the National Assembly’s education committee that is scrutinizing the 2023/2024 budgets, the commission said it also requires more money to recruit 20,000 interns as well as implement the comprehensive medical cover for teachers.

 “The Commission has prepared the 2023/24 financial year and the medium-term estimates guided by its strategic plan, the Medium Plan, the Vision 2030 and, the National priorities as articulated in the Kenya Kwanza Manifesto. One of the critical issues addressed by the Manifesto is the need to expand access to quality services in Health, Education and appropriate safety nets for vulnerable populations,” said Macharia.

 TSC Chief Executive Nancy Macharia told the committee that a number of teachers have stagnated in one job group for a long time leading to demotivation and low productivity.

 “This state of affairs in turn affects the provision of quality education to learners. TSC requires Sh2.2 billion to carry out the promotion of teachers in different job cadres,” said Macharia.

 The move comes after the commission last month advertised promotions for over 14,000 senior teachers in line with Career Progression Guidelines (CPG).

 Of these, 13,713 are principals, deputy principals, senior masters, secondary teachers, head teachers and deputy head teachers in secondary and primary schools.

 The highest vacancies in this category are Deputy Head Teacher II for regular primary schools, which have 7,720 posts.

 TSC is also expected to promote 2,733 head teachers for regular primary schools, 1,330 Secondary teacher I, 725 Deputy Principal II, 602 principals for regular schools, 224 Deputy Principal III for secondary schools and some 208 Senior Master II

On TPD, 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.

  With regards to the recruitment of 20,000 intern teachers, Macharia explained that this is aimed at reducing the shortage of teachers in public schools as well as ensure that learners receive quality education

 “This intervention alone will have a number of spiral effects; one it will create employment for the many young people who are currently unemployed secondly, improve the quality of education and also improve the living standard of many households across the country,” she added

 On the comprehensive medical cover for teachers and their dependents, she said that they need funds to implement the said program.

 Currently she said the medical scheme covers more than one 1,000,000 members across the country and is part of expanding access to quality health care envisaged in the Manifesto.

 Meanwhile Macharia also said that they require another Sh300 million to finance various programs and activities at the county and sub-county levels.

 According to Macharia, TSC county and sub-county offices are very key in the implementation of Teacher Performance Appraisal and Development (TPAD) and Performance Contract implementation and oversight as required by section 11(c) of the TSC Act 2012.

 “They play a big role in the timely dispensation of pending discipline cases and the implementation of teaching standards,” she said.