Teachers' performance appraisals to help improve performance, TSC says

Joan Ngunnzi, the project implementation manager of the Teacher Performance and Integrity Initiative, with John Awiti, the chairman of the Kenya Secondary School Heads Association in Mombasa on June 21, 2014. The project, to be launched on August 6, 2014, aims at improving performance and confidence in public schools. PHOTO | LABAN WALLOGA | NATION

What you need to know:

  • It is expected to help improve performance in public schools.
  • TSC will on Wednesday officially launch the Teacher Performance and Integrity Initiative.
  • The commission seeks to restore confidence in public schools in Kenya.
  • Teachers will be involved in evaluating their individual performance.

The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) is set to implement a new appraisal system for teachers that is expected to help improve performance in public schools.

TSC also plans to empower teachers, reclaim their lost glory and increase public confidence and support for the profession.

Over the years, concerns have been raised about the low teacher performance and increased teacher absenteeism in schools that led to poor results.

The TSC will on Wednesday officially launch the Teacher Performance and Integrity Initiative.

This is a collaborative effort between the TSC and the British Council and will be funded by the Department for International Development (DFID) as part of UK aid to Kenya.

CONFIDENCE IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS

The project's implementation manager, Joan Ngunnzi, told Nation.co.ke that the project aims to improve the performance of teachers and stem the diminishing public confidence in public schools.

“The Commission is working to restore … confidence in public schools and improve learning outcomes in both primary and secondary schools in this country.

"We also want to raise awareness on the teachers’ code of regulation and ethics (and) improve the capacity of TSC officials to manage teacher performance both at the national and county levels,” she said.

Ms Ngunnzi said the project has three domains: knowledge, practice and professional engagement, with standards that teachers must meet.

PROFESSIONALISM AND ETHICS

She said the project seeks to partner with all teachers to raise their profile and improve performance standards.

A pilot phase is being implemented in six counties — Kwale, Kitui, Nyeri, Kisumu, Uasin Gishu and Samburu.

“We have already started disseminating the code of regulations, conduct and ethics to all public schools and holding training on their content and utilisation.

"The training stresses … professionalism and ethics, like reducing absenteeism, negligence of duty and other forms of professional misconduct, including child abuse and drug and substance abuse,” Ms Ngunnzi said.

In its Teacher Performance and Integrity Survey for April 2014, TSC found a trend of increasing absenteeism in schools.

NEW APPRAISAL SYSTEM

The Commission’s acting chairperson, Dr Salome Gichura, told principals meeting in Mombasa in June 2014 during the Kenya Secondary School Heads Association (Kessha) conference that it was their responsibility to ensure that teachers went to class.

She urged teachers to increase their attention to learners’ performance, demonstrate commitment and teach to the best of their ability to improve the quality of education.

TSC is also implementing a new appraisal system, the Teacher Appraisal and Development (TAD) programme, which will allow teachers to participate in evaluating their own performance.

“The appraisal results will inform professional development of teachers. This will be achieved through a variety of approaches, including monitoring, collaborative preparation, subject panels, in-service courses and peer-assisted learning,” she added.

She said the exercise will help make teacher more accountable.