Bar set higher for aspiring teachers

By Linah Benyawa

KENYA: Admission to primary school teacher training colleges may soon be severer following a recommendation from the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) to raise the grades.

The TSC wants entrance grades raised to C+ (plus) from C. With this, they say primary school teachers should train for a diploma certificate.

Meanwhile, TSC Secretary Gabriel Lengoiboni has said graduates who had to do a bridging course to attain university entrance will not be allowed to teach in higher education institutions.

Addressing the 43rd graduation of the Shanzu Teachers College in Mombasa yesterday, Mr Lengoiboni said the commission has made these recommendations to improve teaching standards.

He said TSC wants the P1 grade offered by teacher training colleges phased out and replaced with a diploma. To qualify for P1 Form Four graduates have to have a C plus but under TSC’s recommendation this grade will enable them study a diploma course.

“The commission has advised the Ministry of Education to raise the grades for any person interested in being a primary school teacher to C plus. This will improve teaching standards in our schools,” said Lengoiboni.

He said teachers who entered the teacher training programmes with low grades are often forced to undergo bridging courses to join university. “The teaching fraternity especially the primary school section has had challenges because we have been taking lower grades and for one to be allowed to take a degree course they must undergo some bridging courses. This is what we want stopped because once one does the bridging course we would not be able to recognise their abilities to teach at a higher level,” he explained.

Registration certificate

Lengoiboni also warned teachers of disciplinary action if they teach without TSC registration numbers. He said the commission plans to professionalise teaching where all teachers would be registered and obliged to produce a teaching registration certificate. “Only registered teachers will be allowed to teach either in public or private schools and this is a warning for those who will go against this requirement,” he said.

He added: “Effective September, any teacher who fails to meet TSC requirements and fail to have the TSC registration number will face disciplinary measures. TSC will exercise disciplinary control of all teachers in public and private schools.”