TSC outlines plan to terminate employment of P1 teachers

The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) has hatched a plan that will see a cease in employment of PTE teachers.

In a document dubbed ‘Framework on entry requirement in the teaching service’ the Commission has outlined its plan to scrap off PTE certificate as the minimum requirement for entry into teaching service.

Instead TSC has replaced it with a Diploma which will be inline with the Competency Based Curriculum (CBC).

TSC says for a teacher to be employed to teach Grade 1 to 6 he/she must possess a Diploma in Primary Teacher Education (DPTE).

“That the minimum qualification for entry into teaching in Kenya at all levels be a Diploma in Education,” read the framework recommendations.

However in the document, TSC says it will recognize post training upgrade certificates for teachers who completed ECDE , PTE ,DTE BED, DIP ED and SNE training courses.

The Commission says one must have a minimum Mean Grade C (plain) or its equivalent at KCSE and above and a PTE awarded by Knec.

The teachers will then be allowed to teach Grade 1-3 and 4-6 with some specialization on the indigenous and Foreign languages.

According to TSC data at least 229,00 P1 teachers are upgrading their skills in various Teacher Training Colleges (TTCs).

This latest recommendations are a blow to P1 teachers who are hoping that the Commission will employ them without upgrading their Primary Teacher Education (PTE) certificates.

In the July recruitment of teachers TSC favoured P1 teachers who have upgraded to Diploma.

In the new scoresheet it released, the Commission awarded 10 marks to teachers with evidence of CBC upgrade certificate during recruitment interviews.

However no teacher had the Upgrade certificate since the pioneer Upgraders are now set to start their teaching practice when schools reopen in September before being awarded the CBC upgrade certificate.

Most Diploma upgraders faulted the scoresheet saying the marks awarded is too little compared to what the Commission awards intern teachers.

TSC agents have many times called on P1 teachers to immediately join a TTC and start to take the Diploma upgrade course.

Some of the agents have hinted that the Commission will stop employment of P1 teachers in 2024 and that those who are yet to upgrade should join.

However many P1 teachers say they are unable to meet the training fee which is above sh. 100,000 in many colleges when practicum and Knec assessment fees are included.

The second cohorts of Diploma upgraders have joined this September. The Ministry of Education also advertised for the April whose application exercise ended last month.

CALENDAR FOR DIPLOMA UPGRADING STUDENTS

For P1 teachers who want to upgrade to Diploma Primary Teacher Education (DPTE) they must meet the following requirements;   

1.    The applicant must possess a valid PTE Certificate

2.    The applicant must be registered by the Teachers Service Commission.

3.     The duration of the course shall be 1500 Hours.