TSC implements new teachers’ contract terms

Teachers’ employer will in the next few weeks put all its 298,000 teaching staff and 30,000 school heads in an open performance-based appraisal programme as a gateway to higher pay and promotions.

The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) announced all primary and secondary school staff, as well as those working in tertiary institutions,must be appraised in January, a process that entails performance assessment and setting of annual targets.

Newly appointed Teachers Service Commission CEO Nancy Macharia (PHOTO: BEVERLYNE MUSILI/ STANDARD)

Despite persistent resistance by teachers‘  unions to the new terms of service, TSC declared yesterday that the programme was on course.

“The appraisal shall be through an open system where both the appraisee and appraiser agree on performance targets and rating," explained TSC Chief Executive Officer Nancy Macharia.

She went on: "The appraisal will be undertaken using a specifically designed form, which will cover the following areas; professional knowledge and its application; time management; innovation and creativity in teaching; learner protection and safety; teacher discipline and conduct; promotion of co-curricular activities; professional development and collaboration with parents/guardians and stakeholders."

School heads

She announced the phase for school heads will take effect on January 16, 2016.

However, although the commission set guidelines for the exercise to begin next year, the teachers' unions warned its members not to sign the special forms until the consultations on the issue were completed.

Ms Macharia invoked Section 35 of TSC Act that empowers the commission to take all necessary steps to ensure that teachers comply with teaching standards prescribed under the Act.

In a circular sent to principals and heads of institutions, she indicated that the Teacher Performance Appraisal and Development and Performance Contracting programmes for heads of institutions will be done with effect from January 2016.

The appraisal and performance contracting report for individual teachers and heads of institutions will inform key management decisions including assignment, training, promotion and deployment to administrative positions.

Heads of institutions shall be responsible for the implementation of performance appraisals at the institutional level.

The TSC county director will be responsible for the overall implementation of the programmes in the county while sub-county directors and curriculum support officers will provide technical support and supervise implementation at the sub-county and zonal levels.

However, both Kenya National Union of Teachers (Knut) and Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (Kuppet) welcomed the move to have an open system to appraise the teachers but warned  they must be involved in coming up with the tools for the appraisal.

Involve union

Knut Secretary General Wilson Sossion argued there was need for the commission to involve the union since appraisals touch on the terms and conditions of service.

Sossion maintained that they will still oppose the performance contract for any teacher since they have a permanent contract with TSC.

Kuppet Chairman Omboko Milemba warned the heads of institutions against signing any document without an agreement with the teachers' unions.

Milemba argued TSC's approach has not been consultative enough on the issue of performance contracting and they will continue to oppose it.