School-based studies for teachers to take 8 years

Teachers Service Commission chief executive officer Nancy Macharia. FILE PHOTO | NATION MEDIA GROUP

What you need to know:

  • Already TSC has asked teachers to take advantage of its study leave policy.
  • Curriculum implementation and delivery remains the core function of the TSC and must be given priority.

Teachers currently studying during school holidays will now be required to take eight years before completing their degree programmes.

The Commission for University Education (CUE) has said the duration will allow teachers adequate delivery and internalisation of the material covered.

According to the commission, the original school-based programmes lasted eight years while the current ones have been telescoped to cover two-and-a-half years thus compromising quality.

Learning takes place during school holidays in April, August and December.

There are 312,060 teachers in the country and most of them have been able to advance their education through the programmes.

STUDY LEAVE
At the moment, it’s a requirement by the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) that principals and their deputies in secondary schools be holders of a master’s degree while primary school head teachers and their deputies must be degree holders.

The programme was initially limited to education programmes, targeting teachers.

“However, over time, this mode of delivery has spread to clusters including business and economics; humanities and social sciences; engineering; medical sciences; technology; visual and performing arts,” a report by CUE, and which has since been submitted to the government, reads.

Already TSC has asked teachers to take advantage of its study leave policy, which it argues would ensure the quest for further education is granted to those who merit “in a structured and organised manner that does not infringe on the right of learners”.

QUALITY TEACHING

This is after it emerged that holiday-based courses were interfering with teaching in schools since most of the teachers were using school time to do their own assignments.

TSC Chief Executive Officer Nancy Macharia said curriculum implementation and delivery remains the core function of the teaching service and must be given priority.

At the same time, Education Cabinet Secretary Amina Mohamed has underscored the important role played by teacher training colleges in producing quality staff for schools.

She was speaking during the Kaimosi Teachers Training College graduation ceremony.

CS Mohamed encouraged qualified Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education holders to apply for the 12,000 vacancies that are available in the 27 TTCs countrywide this year.