TSC Teacher Requirements for Deployment to Junior Secondary Schools

TSC Teacher Requirements for Deployment to Junior Secondary Schools.

The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) has outlined the qualifications and documentation required for primary school teachers seeking deployment to junior secondary schools (JSS).

This year, TSC aims to deploy at least 6,000 Primary Teacher Education (PTE) teachers to JSS in response to a significant shortage of 72,422 teachers.

Last year, TSC advertised 6,000 deployment slots for primary school teachers with secondary school diplomas or degrees, asking applicants to submit their applications online by March 18, 2024.

TSC CEO Dr. Nancy Macharia recently stated that the Commission requires 149,350 teachers to effectively manage Grades 7, 8, and 9. Currently, 76,928 teachers are employed in junior secondary schools, representing 51.5% of the required number.

To address this shortfall, TSC has been phasing deployments since 2019, with 1,000 teachers deployed annually from 2019 to 2021 and 8,378 teachers deployed between 2022 and 2024.

Qualifications for Deployment

Primary school teachers seeking deployment must meet specific academic and professional requirements to qualify for teaching in JSS. These include:

1. Active registration with the Teachers Service Commission.
2. Current employment as a primary school teacher under TSC.
3. No ongoing interdiction or disciplinary proceedings.
4. A minimum Diploma in Education with a C+ grade at KCSE (or equivalent) and C+ in two teaching subjects currently in the curriculum. Alternatively, teachers with a C grade at KCSE, a Diploma in Education, and a Bachelor of Education degree qualify.
5. Bachelor’s degree must be in Education; holders of a Bachelor of Education (Primary Option) are not eligible.

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Additionally, candidates must have completed at least eight units in each of their two teaching subjects.

Required Documentation

Applicants are expected to present the following during the verification exercise:

• Original and copies of degree or diploma certificates.
• Original and copies of academic transcripts.
• Original and copy of Special Needs Education (SNE) qualifications, if applicable.
• Original and copy of KCSE certificate (or equivalent).
• A copy of the current payslip.
• A declaration from the Head of Institution confirming the teacher’s current service status and absence of any disciplinary issues.

Progress and Challenges

In recent updates, TSC reported that 8,378 primary school teachers have been deployed to JSS over the last two years.

Dr. Macharia emphasized that phased deployment was introduced to mitigate teacher shortages in learning institutions.

However, the Commission is under increasing pressure to address the teacher deficit as the teacher-to-class ratio in JSS currently stands at 1:1, which may pose challenges in January 2024.

Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Migos announced that qualified primary school teachers would continue to be deployed to junior secondary schools to ensure adequate staffing.

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This initiative also serves as a promotional avenue for primary school teachers who have upgraded their academic qualifications but faced stagnation in their careers.

TSC’s ongoing efforts demonstrate its commitment to addressing the staffing crisis in junior secondary schools and supporting teachers in advancing their careers.

TSC Teacher Requirements for Deployment to Junior Secondary Schools.

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