Primary school teachers in Kenya are facing frustration and disappointment after the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) introduced stringent requirements for deployment to junior secondary school (JSS) classes.
Despite acquiring various diplomas and degrees, many teachers feel that their qualifications are being rendered useless by the Commission’s rigid criteria.
The TSC has outlined specific requirements for P1 teachers to be deployed to teach Grade 7, 8, and 9 classes, including a degree in secondary option with at least C+ in KCSE and C+ in two teaching subjects.
However, this has left out many primary school teachers who have acquired different qualifications, such as:
– *Degree in primary option with C+ and above in KCSE*: These teachers feel that their qualifications are not being recognized.
– *Diploma certificates in ECDE*: Early Childhood Development Education (ECDE) diploma holders are also being excluded from the deployment exercise.
The teachers are expressing their frustrations, feeling that they have spent significant amounts of money on furthering their education only to be barred from the deployment exercise. They argue that the TSC’s requirements are unfair and that their qualifications should be recognized.
– Lack of recognition of various qualifications : The TSC’s rigid criteria are excluding many primary school teachers with different diplomas and degrees.
– Frustration and disappointment: Teachers feel that their qualifications are not being valued, despite their hard work and investment in furthering their education.
– Job stagnation: The Career Progression Guidelines (CPG) introduced in 2014 have led to mass job stagnation, with many teachers feeling that their career progression is being hindered.
The affected teachers are urging the TSC to reconsider its requirements and recognize their various qualifications. They argue that this would not only be fair but also ensure that qualified teachers are deployed to JSS classes.
The TSC needs to revisit its policies and ensure that they are inclusive and recognize the diverse qualifications of primary school teachers.
