TSC Prolongs P1 Teacher Deployment to JSS After Low Turnout.
The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) has extended the online application exercise for the deployment of primary school teachers to junior secondary schools (JSS).
The Commission had planned to close the application portal on January 24, after activating it on January 13. However, due to the low number of applications received, TSC was compelled to extend the deadline to an unspecified date.
TSC announced that from February, P1 teachers would be deployed to teach learners in Grades 7, 8, and 9, where a severe shortage of teachers persists. Despite this pressing need, the Commission recorded a lower-than-expected number of applicants, prompting an extension of the application window.
Officials from the Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) recently urged TSC to reconsider its strict academic qualifications for P1 teachers seeking deployment to JSS.
They suggested that rather than imposing rigid requirements, the Commission should focus on retooling teachers who hold a Primary Teacher Education (PTE) qualification. According to KNUT, these teachers should be allowed to teach in junior secondary schools after receiving the necessary training.
In the current deployment process, TSC requires practicing P1 teachers to hold a degree in secondary education, with at least a C+ grade in the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) and a C+ in two teaching subjects. The Commission has set a target of deploying 6,000 primary school teachers to JSS.
Concerns Over Teacher Shortages
The Commission has faced criticism for failing to recognize P1 teachers who are well-equipped to teach subjects such as Music, Art and Craft, and Physical Education, which many JSS teachers struggle with. TSC CEO Dr. Nancy Macharia stated that addressing the teacher shortage in JSS requires an additional 72,422 teachers.
Macharia further revealed that a total of 149,350 teachers are needed to effectively handle Grades 7, 8, and 9. Currently, 76,928 teachers have been employed in JSS, representing 51.5% of the required workforce.
This number includes 39,550 junior secondary teachers initially recruited on internship terms but later confirmed, 8,378 P1 teachers deployed in 2023 and 2024, and 9,000 JSS teachers employed on permanent and pensionable terms.
The government allocated Ksh 4.8 billion, which TSC utilized to recruit 20,000 JSS teachers on internship terms. Macharia also disclosed that TSC has retooled 229,292 teachers in the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC) and Competency-Based Assessment (CBA) since April 2019. From May 2023 to November 2024, a total of 60,642 JSS teachers have undergone retooling to enhance their teaching capabilities.
TSC continues to face mounting pressure to address the looming teacher crisis in JSS, as the current teacher-to-class ratio stands at 1:1. The Commission has been deploying P1 teachers since 2019 as a means of career progression after persistent complaints from primary school teachers regarding stagnation in their professional growth.
Between 2019 and 2021, 1,000 P1 teachers were deployed annually to secondary schools, while between 2022 and 2024, approximately 8,378 teachers were assigned to serve the initial cohorts of the CBC in JSS.
Verification and Posting of Teachers
TSC has scheduled the verification of documents and the posting of primary school teachers to JSS to commence in February. This exercise will be conducted by TSC Sub-County Directors, who will issue deployment letters to successful candidates. Each teacher will receive one letter, while a second copy will be sent to TSC headquarters for filing.
The deployment process will take into account factors such as the proximity of a teacher’s current station, subject combinations, gender, and qualifications in Special Needs Education (SNE). Teachers with SNE qualifications will be deployed to special JSS institutions.
Required Documents for Verification
Candidates are required to present the following documents during the verification exercise:
- Original and a copy of the degree/diploma certificate
- Original and copies of academic transcripts
- Original and copy of SNE qualification (if applicable)
- Original and copy of the KCSE certificate (or equivalent)
- A copy of the latest payslip
- A declaration from the Head of Institution confirming that the teacher is currently serving in the school and is not under interdiction or facing disciplinary action
Read Also: KNEC Explains Delays in Paying 2024 KPSEA and KCSE Invigilators
Eligibility Criteria for Deployment
Primary school teachers wishing to be deployed to JSS must meet the following requirements:
- Must be actively registered as a teacher with TSC
- Must be employed as a primary school teacher by TSC
- Should not be under interdiction or facing disciplinary action
- Must hold a minimum of a Diploma in Education, with at least a C+ at KCSE (or equivalent) and a C+ in two teaching subjects offered in the school curriculum (either under the 8-4-4 or CBC system) or a minimum of two principal passes and one subsidiary pass at the A-Level
- Must have completed at least eight units in each of the two teaching subjects
- Those who attained a minimum of a C (plain) in KCSE and later pursued a Diploma in Education alongside a Bachelor’s Degree in Education qualify for deployment
- The degree certificate must be a Bachelor of Education, as holders of a Bachelor of Education (Primary Option) are not eligible for deployment
With the extension of the application period, TSC aims to attract more applicants and ensure a sufficient number of teachers are available to meet the growing demands of junior secondary schools.
TSC Prolongs P1 Teacher Deployment to JSS After Low Turnout.
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