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.
Five-Year Licence Renewal Framework
Under the proposed system, registration with the Teachers Service Commission will no longer be sufficient for teachers to remain in active practice throughout their careers.
Instead, teachers will be required to periodically renew their practising licences every five years by successfully completing the prescribed Teacher Professional Development programme.
The commission indicated that the framework is intended to align the teaching profession with other regulated professions where practitioners are required to meet continuing professional development requirements before renewing practising licences.
According to the commission, the proposed model is comparable to the licensing systems applied in the legal and medical professions, where advocates and medical practitioners periodically renew their practising credentials after fulfilling professional development requirements.
TPD Becomes Mandatory
The Teacher Professional Development programme was introduced by the Teachers Service Commission in 2021 to promote continuous learning and enhance teachers’ professional competencies.
Participation in the programme had largely remained voluntary, with many teachers undertaking the training primarily to improve their eligibility for promotions and career progression.
The Commission now reveals 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.
Under the proposed licensing framework, however, successful completion of the programme will become a mandatory condition for licence renewal.
According to the Commission, the licensing framework will also facilitate international recognition of Kenyan teachers by providing professional credentials required in foreign labour markets.
The commission stated that the programme is designed to strengthen teachers’ instructional skills, classroom management, curriculum implementation, assessment practices and other professional competencies required under the Competency-Based Education system.
Changes to TPD Training Costs
The revised framework also introduces changes to the financing of the Teacher Professional Development programme.
When the programme was launched in 2021, teachers were required to pay Sh6,000 per module to undertake the training through contracted universities.
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.
The commission stated that the revised funding model is intended to facilitate wider participation in the programme.
Supporting International Teacher Mobility
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.
According to Acting Chief Executive Officer Evaleen Mitei, the absence of a formal practising licence has previously presented challenges for Kenyan teachers seeking employment abroad, particularly in countries that require applicants to hold valid professional licences issued by their home countries before accreditation.
To support this objective, the commission has been working with the State Department for Diaspora Affairs to strengthen the teacher mobility programme.
On June 17, Mitei led a Teachers Service Commission delegation in discussions with Diaspora Affairs Principal Secretary Roseline Njogu on mechanisms to facilitate the safe, orderly and regulated placement of Kenyan teachers in overseas employment.
The meeting was attended by:
- Acting TSC Chief Executive Officer Evaleen Mitei.
- TSC Chairperson Jamleck Muturi.
- Secretary for Diaspora Investments, Skills and Entrepreneurship Isaiya Kabira.
- TSC Director for Staffing Antonina Lentojoini.
- TSC Deputy Director for Policy Planning, Research, Data and Innovation Clement Kabuti.
During the discussions, Mitei briefed officials on the progress made in developing the policy framework that will guide the deployment of Kenyan teachers to international labour markets.
Online Learning Management System
To support nationwide implementation of the reforms, the Teachers Service Commission is developing a Learning Management System (LMS) through which teachers will:
- Access learning materials.
- Complete Teacher Professional Development modules.
- Track their learning progress. (Monitor their progress throughout the five-year licensing cycle).
- Undertake most training activities online.
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.
Aligning Teaching With Professional Licensing Standards
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.
Read Also: TSC Admits Payroll Error Behind June Salary Cuts
“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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