The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) has started training of teachers in various zones in their sub-counties countrywide.
TSC is training teachers through the Teacher Induction Mentorship and Coaching (TIMEC) programme.
The Commission says the mentorship and coaching programme will improve teacher performance on their jobs.
At least a school head, his deputy and one teacher are to attend for the training. Some sub-counties are yet to start the training but this should be done this week.
The names of teachers who will attend the training were forwarded to the Commission headquarters in Upper Hill.
In April last year TSC said teachers taking part in the mentorship programme will have an upper hand whenever promotion opportunities arise.
Infact when teachers who have successfully completed the TSC mentorship training present themselves in a recruitment interview, it will just be for formality purposes.
The Commission has developed a frame work and policy to guide the programme.
According to the Commission a number of benefits and incentives will be awarded to teachers who successfully take part in the programme.
Teachers involved will be issued with a certificate of completion of mentorship and coaching programme which will be considered as an added advantage in promotions, appointment posts or recognition reward.
Also a certificate of completion will be issued to both the mentor and the mentee.
In addition the mentor and mentee willl earn TPD points as provided for in the TPD policy frame-work and career progression guidelines.
The TIMEC is a structured teacher support programme aimed at embracing preventive measures in managing teacher professional conduct and performance.
TSC has developed the TIMEC programme as part of a broader strategy to develop teachers’ professional ethics and practices.
The programme aims at building teachers competences and skills as well as knowledge on laws, regulations, policies, procedures, values and norms, governing the teaching profession.
Learn below about the TSC mentorship programme.
TSC MENTORSHIP PROGRAMME
DEFINITION OF TERMS
Coaching
An approach where a supervisor supports an individual or a team by building their skills, competencies and attitudes through direction and instruction in order to learn a particular skill (current skills or acquiring new skills) or work towards a set goal. The purpose of coaching is to improve the individual’s performance on the job.
Mentorship
A structured, sustained process of enabling an individual to gain more knowledge and skills to assist him/her in advancing professional and personal skills and/or leadership capabilities for more effective service delivery, job performance and career management.
Mentee
A person who is guided and supported by a more experienced individual in the field of interest and area of competency building in order to promote continuous personal development and realization of their full potential.
Mentor
A specialist and an experienced person who seeks to pass skills, expertise and knowledge to a less experienced teacher with a view to fostering the latter‘s career and personal development. A mentor leads by example through his/her expertise or success.
THE ROLES OF MENTORS/COACHES
The roles and responsibilities of the mentors/coaches will include;
(i) Developing the mentorship/coaching plan with the mentee based on the identified needs.
(ii) Scheduling mentorship/coaching meetings with the mentee.
(iii) Providing support by helping to clarify performance goals and development needs.
(iv) Mentoring/coaching, guidance and counseling of the mentees.
(v) Assisting the mentee/ to achieve the set goals for the mentorship & coaching programme and giving feedback as required.
(vi) Inspire mentees to take action by encouraging their initiative and creativity.
(vii) Acting as a role model which requires that mentors transfer desirable values and actions to mentees on professional conduct and performance.
(viii) Facilitating the development of managerial and technical skills, pointing out specific areas of behavioral improvement by the mentees where applicable.
(ix) Providing mentorship support activities mainly at the institutional level, as well as participating in Zonal/cluster group interactions to share ideas and innovations.
(x) Maintain confidentiality at all times.
(xi) Any other relevant responsibilities assigned from time-to-time.
THE ROLES OF MENTEES
During the mentorship and coaching process, a mentee will be required to:
(i) Identify areas of improvement
(ii) Take responsibility for own development
(iii) Be clear about the mentorship/coaching goals to be learnt and achieved
(iv) Be proactive about initiating contact with the mentor using the various existing communication methods
(v) Be willing to listen and learn
(vi) Ask for feedback and give feedback when required
(vii) Prepare for meetings ahead of time
(viii) Maintain punctuality at all times
On successful completion of the programme,
BENEFITS AND INCENTIVES FOR MENTORSHIP PROGRAMME
(i) A certificate of completion to be issued to both the mentor and the mentee.
(ii) The mentor and mentee to earn TPD points as provided for in the TPD policy frame-work and career progression guidelines.
(iii) Certificate of completion of mentorship and coaching programme to be considered as an added advantage in promotions, appointment posts or recognition reward.
REQUIREMENT TO BE MENTOR OR COACH
To qualify for enlisting into the TIMEC programme as a mentor/coach, one should be;
(i) A professional or expert/talented in a specific area;
(ii) For a teacher/ institutional administrator, must have a specific area of specialization/subject gurus;
(iii) Of good conduct and integrity;
(iv) Willing to offer service as a volunteer;
(v) Persons of professional repute and enjoys respect of colleagues; and
(vi) Innovative.
(vii) The following parameters will also be considered during selection of the mentors/coaches:
a) Gender;
b) Persons Living with Disability,
c)Religion
IDENTIFICATION OF MENTORS
The mentors within an institution may be selected from the following: –
(i) Senior teachers
(ii) Peer Teachers
(iii) Team leaders
(iv) Subject heads and subject experts
(v) The school administrators
(vi) A pool of specialists from diverse fields
INDENTIFICATION OF MENTEES
The following teachers are eligible for the programmes as mentees:
(i) Newly recruited teachers, including those on internship
(ii) Teachers newly appointed to administrative positions;
(iii) Teachers having challenges in performance;
(iv) Teacher engaging in professional conduct
(v) Teachers selected to be developed as mentors.
DURATION OF MENTORSHIP PROGRAMME
Mentorship shall be for a period, while coaching will be continuous based on need. The mentorship period shall be for at least one (1) year subject to satisfactory performance of the mentee. However, the mentor-mentee relationship may last beyond the mentorship period.
DISPUTE RESOLUTION
The resolution of disputes if they occur between mentors and mentees to be dealt with in the following ways; –
1. Discipline.
Where mentors/coaches/mentees commit acts of misconduct, disciplinary action will be taken in accordance with the CORT, and/or the Laws of Kenya.
2. Grievances
If a mentees or mentor feels aggrieved by any matter arising from their working conditions, they may lodge a complaint to the immediate supervisor and /or as per the Commission’s procedure.
EFFECTIVENESS OF THE POLICY
Through the programme, newly recruited teachers, teachers in service, newly appointed administrators will be inducted, guided and supported.
OBJECTIVES OF MENTORSHIP AND COACHING
1. The programme aims at building teachers competences and skills as well as knowledge on laws, regulations, policies, procedures, values and norms, governing the teaching profession.
2. The programme will focus on induction of newly recruited teachers, capacity building of newly appointed school administrators and teachers In-Service wishing to be developed as Mentors as well as provide professional support to teachers experiencing challenges in professional conduct and performance.
3. TIMEC aims at achieving the following short-term and long-term objectives; –
i) Institutionalization and Implementation of the programme in all public Basic Education Institutions
ii) Empowered Institutional Administrators leading to well managed Institutions.
iii) Teachers with performance gaps supported and developed, leading to better performance hence job satisfaction and better self-esteem.
iv) Teachers with professional misconduct supported through the relevant professional development practices leading to teacher retention in the teaching service.
v) Competent and empowered teachers supporting learners academic and psychosocial needs, hence improved curriculum implementation, safe and harmonize school environment.
vi) Empowered learners who are mentored, guided and counseled on career choices, moral, psychosocial and emotional issues.
vii) Entrenched continuous teacher professional development and lifelong learning
viii) Teachers compliance with provisions of the Code of Regulations for Teachers (CORT) and Code of Conduct and Ethics (COCE) hence improved teacher professional conduct and performance.
The mentors/coaches together with the mentees, will identify the performance gaps, set goals and map out strategic interventions. The findings will inform appropriate intervention plans/ modules to support the teacher(s) professional, performance and development needs.
The head of institution/ supervisor will be responsible to ensure the programme is institutionalized and that mentors are identified and coached so as to support the mentees appropriately.