The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) will consider other Diploma and Degree certificates held by primary school teachers for promotion through deployment to junior secondary schools (JSS).
These include teachers with Diploma and Degree in Special Need Education (SNE) and those in Education (primary option). The Commission however rejected those with Early Childhood Development Education (ECDE).
TSC will also consider primary school teachers who scored C plain in KCSE but upgraded to Degree and Diploma certificates.
This latest revelation is a relief for many P1 teachers who were locked out in the recent deployment. TSC will advertised another round of deployment after posting the recent applicants.
After lobbying by Kenya National Union of Teachers (Knut) and protests from PTE teachers who upgraded their certificates, TSC is now succumbing to pressure.
Knut had cautioned TSC against discriminating P1 teachers in the deployment exercise to Junior Secondary Schools.
TSC has in the recent past insisted that only teachers who scored a C+ and above in the KCSE examination will handle the junior secondary students.
But KNUT Secretary General Collins Oyuu termed the proposal by TSC as discriminatory, warning that the declaration is a recipe for chaos.
While addressing the press in Kisumu, Oyuu stated that some of the P1 teachers have upgraded to Diploma courses and higher Diplomas and can teach grade 7. He added that some of the teachers have Degrees and shouldn’t be sidelined.
“Why do we want to use academic stratification to deny teachers who have worked hard and upgraded their skills through advanced learning, why?’’ he posed
Oyuu asked TSC to consider dropping the requirement to C plain, adding most teachers who went through Teachers Training Colleges can handle junior secondary.
Knut was in attendance when TSC Commissioners led by their CEO Dr. Nancy Macharia, appeared before lawmakers yesterday, Thursday.
Macharia on Tuesday revealed that the Commission plans to promote 36,829 teachers from next week where 10,833 will be primary school teachers who will be promoted to work in JSS. .
However Macharia who was also accompanied by TSC Chairperson Jamleck Muturi said so far they have identified 7,282 teachers for deployment.
“TSC has through the verification of personal files; identified 7,282 primary school teachers with requisite qualifications to teach in secondary schools as eligible for deployment to Junior Secondary Schools,” responded Ms Macharia.
The teachers targeted in this first round of deployment to junior secondary are those with Diploma or Degree in Education (Secondary option).
The application for deployment ended on 6th February 2023 and now TSC says 7,282 teachers have been verified for deployment which starts next week.
According to the commission, qualification for deployment to JSS include a Diploma in Education, Bachelor’s degree in Education, at least a C +plus mean grade in the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KSCE) examination or its equivalent and at least C Plus in the two teaching subjects at KCSE or its equivalent.
At university, one must have studied at least eight units in each of the two teaching subjects.