Teachers to Renew Licences Every Five Years Under New TSC Policy.
All teachers in Kenya will be required to obtain and periodically renew their teaching licences under a new regulatory framework being implemented by the Teachers Service Commission (TSC), with licence renewal to be undertaken every five years through mandatory completion of the Teacher Professional Development (TPD) programme.
The announcement was made by Acting Teachers Service Commission Chief Executive Officer Evaleen Mitei during the 49th Kenya Secondary Schools Heads Association (KESSHA) Annual Conference held in Mombasa on Thursday, 25 June.
According to the Commission, the new licensing framework is intended to strengthen professional standards within the teaching service, improve teacher competence, and support the implementation of the Competency-Based Education (CBE) curriculum.
Mitei stated that the Teacher Professional Development programme will form the basis for the renewal of teaching licences, placing the teaching profession under a licensing regime similar to that applied in other regulated professions.
“We are saying, just like all other professions, the teaching service must be licensed. That five-year TPD will lead to the renewal of your teaching licence,” Mitei said.
The Commission revealed that the Teacher Professional Development programme will primarily be delivered through an online platform, with only limited face-to-face sessions. The digital approach is intended to improve accessibility for teachers across the country while supporting continuous professional learning.
The Acting Chief Executive Officer further announced that teachers will not be required to pay for participation in the programme.
“I think the thing that teachers want to hear is that it is free. We will not charge any money for the Teacher Professional Development programme that is coming,” she said.
According to the Commission, the licensing framework will also facilitate international recognition of Kenyan teachers by providing professional credentials required in foreign labour markets.
Mitei disclosed that the Commission has developed a Teacher Mobility Policy to support teachers seeking employment opportunities outside Kenya.
“We have equally developed a teacher mobility policy for teachers who want to go and teach abroad, but they face challenges because we do not license our teachers,” she added.
To facilitate implementation of the programme, the Teachers Service Commission is developing a Learning Management System through which teachers will access training modules, undertake professional learning activities, and monitor their progress throughout the five-year licensing cycle.
School heads were urged to ensure teachers participate in the programme upon its rollout, with the Commission indicating that continuous professional development will contribute to improved classroom practices and learner outcomes.
The licensing framework forms part of broader reforms being implemented by the Teachers Service Commission to align the teaching profession with the requirements of the Competency-Based Education curriculum.
As part of the reforms, the Commission has reviewed Legal Notice No. 50 governing teacher registration requirements to ensure compliance with the demands of the revised education system.
The Teachers Service Commission further announced that the minimum academic qualification for entry into primary school teaching has been revised from the Primary Teacher Education (P1) certificate to diploma level.
The Commission has also introduced specialised pathways for teachers serving learners with Special Needs Education and revised teacher registration requirements to permit the registration of teachers with one teaching subject in selected curriculum areas experiencing staffing shortages.
In addition, the Commission has developed a new teacher staffing framework aimed at promoting equitable distribution of teachers across schools while addressing staffing shortages, particularly in marginalised and hard-to-staff regions.
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“By strengthening teacher capacity, the Commission ensures that these reforms are translated into improved classroom practices and enhanced learner experiences,” Mitei said.
The Teachers Service Commission indicated that the reforms are intended to strengthen teacher professionalism, enhance regulatory oversight of the teaching service, and support the effective implementation of the Competency-Based Education curriculum through continuous professional development and periodic licence renewal.
Teachers to Renew Licences Every Five Years Under New TSC Policy.
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