Teachers Service Commission, TSC, is proposing that minimum grades in teaching subjects be raised from the current grade of C+ to B-.
According to the proposal, teachers who will taking learners in Junior Secondary School (JSS) And Senior Secondary School (SSS) as outlined in the Competence Based Curriculum, CBC, will have to undertake three subjects. Currently, teachers in secondary school teach two subject.
The commission has however proposed that the minimum entry mean grade into colleges and universities will remain to KCSE Mean grade of C+.
At the same time, the teachers’ employer is proposing the scrapping off of the Bachelor of Education Science and Bachelor of Education Arts. The two courses will be replaced with Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Arts respectively.
These proposals are clearly outlined in the policy document by TSC titled, Framework for Entry in the Teaching Service. 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.
“All the 8-4-4 and Competency Based Curriculum (CBC) students must undertake first, 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),” the document stipulates.
Other recommendations are that the minimum qualification for entry into teaching in Kenya at all levels be a diploma in Education.
The proposals according to the commission are meant to equip educators with enough knowledge and practical experience on teaching.
Backlash
The proposals have already elicited mixed reactions with lecturers and the University Academic Staff Union strongly opposing them.
The lecturers have said that they received the framework with a lot of shock and are keenly analysing it before authoring a counter report.
“They want to erase the Bachelors of Education programme so that all students just enrol for either Bachelor of Arts or of Science. When they graduate and one is interested in teaching, he or she must return for a postgraduate diploma in education,” said Dr Wilfridah Itolondo, Kenyatta University UASU chapter vice-chairperson.