A major stumbling block in the recruitment and deployment process is the stringent academic requirements set by TSC for primary school teachers seeking promotion to junior secondary levels. Currently, for a P1 teacher to qualify for deployment to JSS, they must possess a Bachelor’s degree in Education with a specialization in secondary school teaching. Additionally, they must have attained at least a C+ grade in the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) and a minimum of C+ in two teaching subjects.
These requirements have locked out many experienced primary school teachers, who, despite possessing quality KCSE grades, diploma certificates, and degrees, do not meet the specific criteria set by the Commission. The Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) has strongly criticized TSC’s rigid stance on academic qualifications, arguing that it is unjust and detrimental to the education sector.
KNUT has urged the Commission to consider retooling and upskilling PTE teachers instead of barring them from deployment to JSS. The union has argued that many of these teachers have years of experience and are well-equipped to handle the subjects required at the junior secondary level. KNUT further emphasized that subjects such as Music, Arts and Crafts, and Physical Education (P.E.), which are integral to CBC, are areas where P1 teachers excel, yet they are being overlooked in favor of those who meet TSC’s strict academic criteria.
As March 2025 approaches, all eyes will be on TSC to see how effectively it executes the document verification and deployment exercise. Stakeholders will also be keen to monitor whether the Commission will reconsider its stance on P1 teacher qualifications, as calls for flexibility continue to intensify. For now, the fate of many P1 teachers hoping to transition to JSS hangs in the balance as the recruitment process unfolds.
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