Special Needs Education (SNE): Teacher-Learner Distribution and TSC Deployment Criteria

Special Needs Education (SNE): Teacher-Learner Distribution and TSC Deployment Criteria.

The government has reiterated its commitment to ensuring inclusivity in education, particularly for learners with special needs.

The Ministry of Education outlined the current situation in special needs institutions, including enrollment numbers, teacher-pupil ratios, and ongoing measures to address teacher shortages and facility requirements.

Special Needs Education: Key Statistics

The Ministry of Education highlighted the current status of special needs education in Kenya:

1. Integrated Primary Special Needs Schools:
   • Number of Schools: 378
   • Enrollment: 4,282 learners
2. Special Primary Schools:
   • Number of Schools: 2,514
   • Enrollment: 77,778 learners
3. Secondary Special Needs Schools:
   • Number of Schools: 81
   • Enrollment: 7,183 learners
4. Junior Secondary Special Needs Schools:
   • Number of Schools: 155
   • Enrollment: 3,443 learners
5. Pre-Vocational Special Needs Institutions:
   • Number of Institutions: 112
   • Enrollment: 2,067 learners

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Teacher Deployment Criteria

The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) assigns teachers to special needs schools based on three primary considerations:

1. The teacher-pupil ratio, tailored for different disabilities.
2. The type of disability affecting learners.
3. The level of disability as categorized in the 2018 Sector Policy for Learners and Trainees with Disabilities.

The standard teacher-learner ratios for various disabilities are as follows:

Measures to Address Teacher Shortages

The TSC has initiated various steps to tackle the shortage of teachers in special schools and units. The key strategies include:

1. Deployment of Teachers from Regular Schools:
   • Phased Approach:
     • Phase 1 (May 2024): 1,763 teachers deployed.
     • Phase 2 (September 2024): 1,200 teachers deployed.
     • Phase 3 (January 2025): 1,200 teachers to be deployed.
     • Phase 4 (June 2025): 1,200 teachers to be deployed.
2. Recruitment of Additional Teachers:
   • Currently, 344 teachers are being recruited to handle learners with conditions such as cerebral palsy, hearing impairment, visual impairment, and physical disabilities.
3. Ongoing Process Monitoring:
   • Deployment for phases one and two is complete, while phases three and four will commence in early 2025.

Ensuring Equitable Resource Allocation

The Ministry emphasized that special needs institutions are equipped with facilities comparable to ordinary schools. This ensures that learners with disabilities receive adequate support for their educational needs.

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These measures demonstrate the government’s ongoing commitment to improving access and quality in special needs education.

Special Needs Education (SNE): Teacher-Learner Distribution and TSC Deployment Criteria.