D students to train as teachers if stakeholders pass new rules

Education PS Belio Kipsang when he appeared before National Assembly Education Committee at Parliament. [Boniface Okendo/Standard]

 A meeting to end simmering controversy surrounding the proposed teachers training entry requirement has been called next week as stakeholders rejected the push to lower admission standards.

Basic Education PS Belio Kipsang has invited the warring Teachers Service Commission (TSC) and the National Qualifications Authority (KNQA) to discuss the D entry grade to teachers P1 training.

"These new requirements need to be discussed and consensus reached by stakeholders in the education sector so that any changes can be effected by the beginning of October 2018 when the second selection is being finalized," said Kipsang.

The KNQA has set C– (Minus) as the minimum diploma entry grade and D (Plain) for certificate courses, which means that teachers training colleges will be at liberty to take in lower grades from the current C.

The new requirements are contained in KNQ Framework recommendations gazzetted on June 2018.

In his letter inviting TSC Chief Executive Officer Nancy Macharia and Authority director general Juma Mukhwana, PS Kipsang called for dialogue.

The PS called the parties to a meeting this Thursday at Education Cabinet Secretary Amina Mohammed boardroom. The meeting will take place on Thursday, October 4.

TSC has written a protest letter to the qualifications authority, decrying the lower grade proposed and argues it will lead to substandard personnel.

"The commission takes the view that your proposal to lower the qualifications of persons to train as teachers has the potential of over flooding the job market with low grade persons trained as teachers," said Macharia.

TSC has also challenged the Authority over its mandate to effect such changes, which the Commission says, does not fall within the jurisdiction of the Authority.

Mukhwana maintains that the Authority is the only body mandated in law to set minimum entry requirements for all teaching levels in the country.

"No one else can purport to set minimum entry standards. It is only KNQA that can do that," said Mukhwana.

Parents and teachers unions have rejected the new requirements saying quality teaching will be affected.

"Will they be able to motivate learners to aim higher?" said Nicholas Maiyo, National chairman of parents association.

KNQA has called another stakeholders meeting has been called October 5, just a day after the one to be chaired by Kipsang.

"To enable us fulfill some objectives, we have organized a meeting of all professional bodies in Kenya on Friday. The meeting will discuss guidelines for recognizing and registering professional bodies and quality assurance agencies into KNQF.

Those invited include Kenya Universities and Colleges Central Placement Service (Kuccps), Higher Education Loans Board (Helb), Kenya National Examination Council (Knec), and Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (KICD).

Others are Kenya Medical Training Colleges (KMTC), Kenya Medical Laboratory Technicians and Technologists (KMLTT), Clinical Offices Council (COC), Architectural Association of Kenya (AAK) and Pharmacy and Poisons Board.

Institute of Human Resources Management, Kenya Nutritionist and Dieticians Institute, Kenya Water Institute and the Institute of Surveyors of Kenya have also been invited to the meeting.

Amina will open the meeting that will take place at the Kasneb head office.