A new proposal before Parliament seeks to have the Government lower entry grades for children from marginalised areas joining teachers training colleges.
The proposal by Wajir East MP Rashid Amin (pictured) wants to amend section 22 of the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) Act to level the playing ground for all learners.
“The Cabinet Secretary shall by notice in the Gazette prescribe qualifications required for a person to be admitted for training as a teacher by a training institution prescribing qualification…the CS shall take into account the affirmative action principle in order to promote access to education and training by persons from marginalised counties and persons with disabilities,” reads the proposal currently before the National Assembly Education Committee.
Counties that could benefit are Wajir, Marsabit, Turkana, West Pokot, Tana River, Garissa, Narok, Taita Taveta, Isiolo, Kilifi, Kwale, Lamu, Mandera and Samburu.
“People from these areas...constitute a significant proportion of the country’s population,” said Mr Amin.
“The same principle is already being applied in the education sector where children from marginalised areas who score lower grades share a classroom with their counterparts from other regions of the country. There is no reason why the same cannot be applied to those joining teacher training colleges,” said the MP.
Leaders from marginalised counties have often complained of historical injustices that left them unable to compete effectively with people from other regions.
As a result of the hardships faced by students, such as walking long distances to school, such children struggle to compete with their counterparts from other parts of the country.
“The qualifications for admission into training institutions may be varied from time to time by the Cabinet Secretary… and shall be lower for persons from marginalised counties in order to afford the persons adequate and equal opportunities for education and advancement,” the proposal reads.
“A person who obtains a certificate from training institution under this section shall be eligible to be registered as a teacher…,”it states.
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