CS Amina, Sossion firm on TTC grades in marginalised areas

What you need to know:

  • Cabinet Secretary Amina Mohammed noted that with this requirement, the number of students admitted this year was higher.
  • Knut's Wilson Sossion said the global standard is to have local teachers trained and posted to local schools.
  • However, Attorney-General Kihara Kariuki told the CS that she has no power to lower the entry grades for the colleges.

The Education ministry on Thursday said it will not relent in its decision to lower to D+, the entry grade for teacher training colleges in marginalised counties.

Cabinet Secretary Amina Mohammed noted that with this requirement, the number of students admitted this year was higher.

SHORTAGES

Speaking on her behalf, primary Education director Alias Abudi said the only way the country can solve the issue of teacher shortages in these areas is by training locals.

"The ministry took a bold decision by lowering the grade. We are not going back," he said

Ms Mohamed had cited challenges including requests for transfers by teachers posted to these parts of the country.

The director said, "The acute shortage can only be solved by having teachers from those regions trained and posted to teach there."

KNUT'S STAND

Wilson Sossion, Secretary-General of the Kenya National Union of Teachers, said they have declared their stand on the matter of lowering grades.

"Those talking about quality do not know what they are saying. The global standard is to have teachers from local communities teaching in those regions," Mr Sossion said.

He and Mr Abdui spoke during the union's 61st annual conference at Bomas of Kenya in Nairobi.

However, Attorney-General Kihara Kariuki told the CS that she has no power to lower the entry grades for the colleges and said this should be left to the Teachers Service Commission

Last Month, CS Mohamed ordered that the grade for diploma courses be lowered from C+ to C and that for certificates from C to D.

The CS lowered the grades for students from marginalised counties and backdated it to candidates who sat the KCSE from 2006.

The counties are Turkana, Samburu, Wajir, Marsabit, Isiolo, Mandera, Garissa, Lamu, Baringo, Narok, Kajiado, Kwale, Kilifi, Taita Taveta, Tana River and West Pokot.