TSC to Roll Out Teacher Deployment to Special Schools.
The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) has announced the commencement of the third phase of deploying teachers to special schools and units. This initiative, which began in September last year, targets a total of 3,600 teachers to address staff shortages in special needs education (SNE).
Dr. Nancy Macharia, TSC CEO, emphasized that some special schools face critical understaffing. The Commission plans to utilize part of the 18,057 excess teachers in primary schools to alleviate this issue.
Deployment Plan and Timeline
The phased deployment is necessitated by financial constraints, as noted by Dr. Macharia during a presentation to the Cohesion and Equal Opportunities Committee. The deployment phases are scheduled as follows:
| Phase | Timeline | Number of Teachers |
|---|---|---|
| Phase 1 | September 2024 | 1,763 |
| Phase 2 | January 2025 | Data not specified |
| Phase 3 | June 2025 | Data not specified |
Dr. Macharia stated that the target group includes teachers with diplomas or degrees in SNE.
Special Schools Facing Teacher Shortages
The Commission revealed a shortage of 5,362 teachers in special needs schools across the country. In May 2024, TSC deployed 1,763 teachers to address part of this gap. Primary school teachers with diplomas in SNE will be posted to primary special schools and units in line with their areas of specialization.
Details of eligible teachers were captured and sent to TSC Curriculum Support Officers (CSOs) for processing. Information collected included names, TSC numbers, contact details, and areas of SNE specialization such as hearing impairment (HI), visual impairment (VI), mental handicap (MH), autism, cerebral palsy (CP), and deaf-blindness.
Online Portal for Junior Secondary School Deployment
In parallel, TSC activated an online portal for the deployment of primary school teachers to junior secondary schools (JSS). The Commission plans to deploy 6,000 teachers this year to address a shortfall of 72,422 teachers in JSS.
Deployment Requirements for JSS Teachers
Teachers wishing to apply for JSS deployment must meet the following criteria:
- Active registration with TSC.
- Current employment as a primary school teacher with TSC.
- No ongoing disciplinary processes or interdiction.
- Minimum diploma in education with C+ at KCSE (or equivalent) and in two teaching subjects.
Academic and Verification Documents
Candidates must present the following during the verification process:
- Original and copies of degree/diploma certificates and transcripts.
- SNE qualifications (where applicable).
- KCSE certificates or their equivalent.
- Current payslip.
- Declaration from the Head of Institution confirming active service and no disciplinary issues.
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Addressing the Teacher Crisis in JSS
Dr. Macharia stated that TSC has deployed 8,378 teachers to JSS in the past two years. However, the teacher-to-class ratio remains 1:1, creating significant pressure to meet staffing demands.
Education CS Julius Migos emphasized in a press statement that deploying qualified primary school teachers to JSS is a progressive step toward adequate staffing. He highlighted TSC’s efforts to ensure teacher quality and sufficiency in the new Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC).
| Year | Number of Teachers Deployed |
|---|---|
| 2019–2021 | 1,000 per year |
| 2022–2024 | 8,378 |
Dr. Macharia concluded that phased deployment remains critical to addressing shortages across learning institutions.
TSC to Roll Out Teacher Deployment to Special Schools.
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