In yet another surprise move, TSC CEO Nancy Macharia jointly with Education CS Mr. George Magoha have reaffirmed that teachers will have to renew the certificates every five years.
This move is a revisit to a similar announcement made earlier during the release of KCPE 2020 results at Knec HQ on Dennis Pritt Road, Nairobi, on April 15.
TSC Boss Nancy Macharia noted that this is a professional development that is intended to run for 30 years within which there are six schedules. Each schedule lasts 5 years. A teacher will therefore be required to pay ksh. 6000 for each schedule.
From the laid down plans, selected universities within the republic have been identified to offer the training to teachers. They include Mount Kenya University, Kenyatta University, Kenya Education Management Institute and Riara.
“The identified institutions, four in number, have since been contracted on an annual agreement, however, with an option for extension, to roll out the program.” Said Madam Nancy Macharia.
The announcement comes today, 21St September, 2021 at the just ended meeting where the same was discussed. The rolled out of refresher courses targets the 340,000 tutors across the country, TSC Boss says she is intending to professionalise teaching profession to the required standards to match other major ones like Law, Medicine and Engineering. What was however not clear is whether or not this upgrade will affect the teachers salaries to match the said careers.
Nancy Macharia noted that her efforts to negotiate for better terms of service for teachers have been frustrated because at the negotiation table, teachers are handled either as semi-skilled or unskilled employees. Thus rolling out the program will to a great extent ensure her teachers earn professional respect.
The move, she added, will make the tutors keep a breast with the latest changes in every sectors of the academic world.
“I undertake this initiative to see to it that in the end our teachers conduct credible research projects, write quality academic and acclaimed research papers to in turn improve the quality of teaching in schools,” Macharia added.
“It should be noted however that, missing out on this noble professional training will not affect any chance for a promotion.” Macharia concluded.