There were apprehensions that teachers holding a certificate of primary teacher education (PTE) but not upgraded to diploma primary teacher education (DPTE) would be thrown out of TSC employment.
However, Dr. Nancy Macharia, CEO of Teachers Service Commission (TSC), assured teachers during a media workshop in Naivasha last year that they would still be employed despite the change in policy.
“Remember when we were training Certificate P1 teachers it was a government policy. All the people trained should be employed before the policy is implemented and they will not be harmed,” said Macharia.
There are already plans to hire more teachers after the July 2022 budget.
TSC is expected to hire more teachers after the education ministry recommended an increase of Kshs 15 billion in its annual budget.
The document proposes an increase of Sh14.9 billion, from the current Sh281.7 billion to Sh296.6 billion, according to the draft 2022 budget policy statement (a roadmap for the 2022-23 budget).
The increased funding under Teacher Resource Management implies that the Commission is ready to recruit more teachers and meet the increase in teachers’ salaries.
“TSC is determined to see that the teachers are properly staffed. It is working with the Ministry of Education to ensure that enough teachers are made available by recruiting 5,000 teachers every year and hiring intern teachers,” reads a section of the policy.
The Diploma Upgrade Program is lasting nine months, covering six months of class work and three months of teaching practice.
Last year, the principals of TTC met at Naivasha and suggested that the upgradation program be extended for another six months.
A task force had recommended both P1 and ECDE teachers to undergo compulsory training that began in October last year 2021. A Diploma Certificate will be issued to the trainees at the end of the training.
The upgradation program will have 4 posts for DPTE (Diploma Elementary Teacher Education) and 5 posts for DECTE (Diploma Early Childhood Teacher Education).
Both will have full duration for course work and practice.
The graduates for the upgradation program will be expected to teach all the subjects offered in the area of training.
The task force said that blended learning and distance learning would be considered for diploma upgrade program at an appropriate time.
However teacher trainees are expected to boost their employment opportunities upon graduation with a diploma.
Calendar for Diploma Upgrading Students
The total number of content and academic hours in the upgrade programs will be 786 hours for DPTE and 1176 hours for DECTE.
For ECDE up-gradation, they will do all teaching areas in DECTE with more hours than in PTE upgrade, but both will have 300 hours of teaching practice.
However P1 teachers will only study subjects they didn’t do in college.
“The CBTEC expects that the primary school teacher should be based on all the subjects offered in the primary schools, hence upgrading the PTE teacher trainee would be exempted from the subjects in which he had acquired specialization and only those which he had not taken in the certificate course,” reads. A workforce report.
This program currently only affects PTEs and ECDEs who are not in any form of employment.
“All teachers in service with the Teachers’ Service Commission (TSC), county governments and private schools will be expected to initiate a mixed upgradation program once the school calendar returns to normal due to the disruptions caused by the COVID 19 pandemic,” the taskforce said.
Requirements for P1 and ECDE teachers who wish to upgrade to Diploma.
For P1 teachers who wish to upgrade to Diploma in Elementary Teacher Education (DPTE), they must meet the following requirements;
1. Applicant should have a valid PTE certificate
2. The applicant must be registered by the Teachers Service Commission.
3. Duration of the course will be 1500 hours.
4. The course will be completely residential.
5. The trainee shall attend all the courses specified in the Program for Upgradation of Diploma in Elementary Teacher Education
6. Trainees will undertake 300 hours of teaching practice.
7. To be awarded the Diploma, the trainee must complete the required hours of course work and an assessment set by the Kenya National Examinations Council.
8. Applicants must submit proof of adherence to positive ethics and good behavior.
For ECDE teachers who wish to upgrade to the Diploma in Early Childhood Teacher Education (DECTE), they must meet these key requirements;
1. Applicant should have valid ECDE certificate.
2. The applicant must be registered by the Teachers Service Commission.
3. Duration of the course will be 1890 hours.
4. The course will be completely residential.
5. The trainee shall attend all the courses specified in the Program for Upgradation of Diploma in Early Childhood Teacher Education (DECTE).
6. Trainees will undertake 300 hours of teaching practice.
7. To be awarded the Diploma, the trainee must complete the required hours of course work and pass an assessment set by the Kenya National Examinations Council.
8. Applicants must submit evidence of adherence to positive ethical values and good behavior.
