The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) will promote second cohorts of primary school teachers to teach in junior secondary this year.
TSC is yet to deploy these second cohorts of practicing PTE teachers to junior secondary schools whose application ended on 22nd March 2023 for lack of funds.
In the budget to be presented to Parliament on Thursday next week, the Commission is seeking sh 2.2 billion which will go towards promotion of these teachers as well as about 14,000 tutors who have stagnated in the same job group over the years.
Already the first cohorts, who applied by 6th February 2023, were deployed to teach Grade 7 learners after their documents were verified by their Sub County Directors who were issued with lists of shortlisted teachers.
The teachers were issued with deployment (posting) letters which showed they will start at job group C2.
TSC in a circular dated 17th February 2023 had said it received a total of 10,833 requests from qualified primary school teachers for deployment to Junior Secondary Schools.
However only around 7,400 qualified and deployed to junior secondary school section.
To hasten payment for deployed teachers TSC CEO Dr. Nancy Macharia gave clear directive to Sub County Directors and Primary Headteachers releasing and receiving the teachers.
“Immediately the teachers are deployed to JSS, the County Directors shall initiate posting on the Posting, Entry/ Exit Reports Module to the Sub-County. The Sub-County Director shall post the teachers to JSS,” said TSC CEO Nancy Macharia in the circular.
She ordered Heads of Institution (HOI) releasing the teachers to immediately exit them through the submission of Exit Reports to enable the receiving Head of Institution to submit the Entry Report.
All these processes, she said must be conducted online through the Posting, Entry/Exit Reports Module as the Commission no longer recognizes nor process hard copy casualties.
“Where the teacher is retained in the same station, the Head of Institution shall exit the teacher from primary school and submit Entry Report for the JSS,” said Macharia.
Most of the teachers have started to receive their salaries this June. However TSC is yet to release the salary arrears which is expected to do this month.
Most deployed teachers are primary school teachers in job group C1 followed by those who are in job group B5.
Salary for a deployed C2 teacher
Basic salary 34,955
House allowance (other areas) 7,500
Hardship 10,900
Commuter 5,000
Leave(paid only in January) 6,000
Those deployed (with degree certificates) will be placed at job group C2 where they will serve for a period of three years before being moved automatically to job group C3.
Those with diplomas will however start at job group C1 where they will serve for a three year period then they will be elevated to job group C2 automatically.
The Commission ordered the Sub County Directors to ensure the teachers are deployed to their current stations or those that are close to their current stations.
TSC said teachers with SNE qualification should be posted to Special JSS.
Primary School teachers wishing to be deployed to JSS must be qualified to teach in secondary schools. The teacher MUST meet the following requirements:
i) Have an active registration as a teacher with the Teachers Service Commission.
ii) Is employed as a primary school teacher with the Teachers Service Commission.
iii) Should not be currently serving an interdiction or undergoing a disciplinary process.
iv) Have a minimum of a Diploma in Education with a minimum of C+ at KCSE (or it’s equivalent) with C+ in two teaching subjects currently being offered in the school curriculum (either under 8-4-4 or CBC) or two (2) principles and one (1) subsidiary pass at “A” Level.
Those with a minimum of C (plain) at KCSE (or its equivalent) and have undertaken a Diploma in Education together with a Bachelor Degree in Education qualify.
v) The degree certificate must be Bachelor of Education. Bachelor of Education (Primary Option) holders are not eligible.
vi) Must have expressed interest to be deployed to Junior Secondary School and their name is in the list shared from the Headquarters.
Candidates are expected to present the following documents during verification exercise:
i) Original and copy of the degree/diploma certificate;
ii) Original and copies of the academic transcripts;
iii) Original and copy of SNE qualification (where applicable);
iv) Original and copy of the KCSE certificate (or its equivalent);
v) A copy of the current payslip;
vi) A declaration by the Head of Institution that the teacher is currently serving in the school and is neither serving an interdiction nor undergoing a disciplinary process.