Reforms a must, says teachers’ employer

The teachers’ employer has maintained that it shall implement professional standards to streamline the teaching profession.

Teachers Service Commission (TSC) Chief Executive Officer Nancy Macharia said the appraisal system has restored sanity in the sector.

She said there is a significant improvement in performance this year compared with the last two years because of the reforms in teaching.

“No doubt, it is clear that the performance management programmes the TSC put in place in the last three years are now paying off,” said Mrs Macharia.

She said TSC has put in place accountability system to ensure compliance with, and maintenance of teaching standards.

“Through the ongoing implementation and institutionalisation of the Teacher Appraisal Programme, there has been a remarkable improvement in teacher-learner contact,” she said. The statement by Mrs Macharia affirms the employer’s commitment to implement the performance tools already rejected by the Kenya National Union of Teachers (Knut).

The union has issued a strike notice, citing the appraisal tools as one of the sticky issues.

Knut has also cited teachers promotions, delocalisation, professional development modules and performance contracting tools as points of disagreement with the employer.

Macharia (below) however said during the release of Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) examination results that the Commission will not back down.

“The Commission is committed to a complete institutionalisation of integrity in the national examination system,” she said.

She said the tools are intended to inculcate a culture of professional accountability in the administration, management and processing of examinations.

“In view of this, the measure towards institutionalisation of integrity and professional accountability is to fully enforce registration of all teachers whether in public or private schools,” she said.