Teachers to be appraised by employer from January
Teachers Service Commission CEO Nancy Macharia at a past event. More than 298,000 teachers will from January be subjected to an annual appraisal, their employer has said. PHOTO | ANTHONY OMUYA | NATION MEDIA GROUP
What you need to know:
- Teachers Service Commission (TSC) Chief Executive Officer Nancy Macharia said the evaluation would be used in assignment, training, promotion and deployment of teachers.
- The 30,000 headteachers among the 23,000 for primary schools and 7,000 for post-primary schools will be subjected to performance contracts.
- Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers said the appraisal is not strange as TSC is performing its supervisory role.
More than 298,000 teachers will be subjected to an annual appraisal from January, their employer has said.
Teachers Service Commission (TSC) Chief Executive Officer Nancy Macharia said the evaluation would be used in assignment, training, promotion and deployment of teachers.
The 30,000 headteachers among the 23,000 for primary schools and 7,000 for post-primary schools will be subjected to performance contracts.
“Heads of institutions will be put under performance contracting and will be assessed on resource management, service delivery, maintenance of teaching standards, integrity and national values,” said Ms Macharia in a circular to education officials and leaders of teachers’ unions dated December 18.
She added that the appraisal would cover professional knowledge and its application, time management, innovation and creativity in teaching.
PERFORMANCE TARGETS
Others areas include learner protection and safety, teacher discipline and conduct, promotion of co-curricular activities, professional development and collaboration with parents or guardians and stakeholders.
“The appraisal shall be through an open system where both the appraisee and appraiser agree on performance targets and rating,” said Ms Macharia.
She said the appraisal is intended to improve performance, competencies and learning outcomes. It is also aimed at helping in the identification of performance gaps and provision of support for professional development.
It will also assist in the establishment of fair, effective, consistent performance evaluation and reporting.
“The TSC county director is responsible for the overall implementation of the programmes in the counties while sub-county directors and curriculum support officers would provide technical support and supervise implementation,” she said.
DECLINED TO COMMENT
Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers said the appraisal is not strange as TSC is performing its supervisory role.
However, the union’s Secretary-General Akelo Misori said TSC should improve on working conditions of teachers.
“It is unfair to engage teachers in performance contracting with poor infrastructure, the government should address high dropouts as they impact negatively on performance of teachers,” said Mr Misori.
Kenya National Union of Teachers Secretary-General Wilson Sossion declined to comment.
“I am not going to comment on teachers’ appraisals right now. I will do so in January,” he said.
