Teachers service Commission, TSC, has now backed down its earlier recommendation of scrapping the Bachelor of Education degree.
TSCÂ through a document titled, Framework for Entry in the Teaching Service, had indicated that students intending to train as teachers will have to first undertake Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science courses for a period of three years majoring on the key subjects and, thereafter, undertake a Postgraduate Diploma in Education for a period of one year for teaching at junior and senior school and SNE (Special Needs Education.
This recommendation sent cold jitters to trained but unemployed teachers as they worried being left out employment.
In a change of tune, TSC boss Dr. Nancy Macharia has now said that the decision to scrape B.ED courses has not been made yet, and that if changes are to be effected they will not affect past and present holder of Bachelor of Education degree.
While speaking on Tuesday during the launch of form one selection at KICD, Dr. Nancy Macharia said that the mandate of TSC is limited to reviewing and advising standard of education.
“TSC has no powers to scrap any university degree. (Its) mandate is limited to reviewing and advising on standards of education and training of teachers,” said TSC Boss.
According to the report by the Nation, deans of schools of education from 56 universities offering the BEd programme are finalising a joint response to the proposal.
Education CS prof. Magoha is among the top government officers who lauded the move by the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) to recommend teacher trainees to undertake a Bachelor of Science course followed by a one-year postgraduate diploma in Education.
Magoha noted that the move will equip teachers with the right skills to teach CBC in Secondary schools.