By Fredrick Odiero
The Ministry of Education has raised concerns over the lukewarm response to Teachers’ Performance Appraisal and Development (TPAD) uptake in Kisumu County by a section of school heads.
Kisumu county Teachers’ Service Commission (TSC) director Mr. Ibrahim Rugut wrote to all sub county directors, curriculum support officers, principals, head teachers and ICT officers within the area to give feedback over the situation.
In the letter seen by Education News, Mr. Rugut has pointed out that Kisumu County was ranked position 41 out of 47 counties in the recently released term 3 2021 appraisal report.
‘The performance is unacceptable given that TPAD is one of the key reforms in the management of teaching and learning,’ he said.
The director revealed that the failure of concerned parties to ensure 100% compliance to TPAD in their areas of jurisdictions implies that they have compromised learning by 33.8%.
Through the letter, he urged those who have attained 100% compliance to give evidence of the same.
‘What TSC wants is feedback concerning the low uptake of TPAD within the county,’ he said.
Some teachers argued that the exercise is tedious since most of them have problems with internet connectivity both in their homes and in their stations of service.
“The ministry should provide laptops for each teacher if they want to make the exercise successful.” Some teachers appealed.
The teachers argued that they aren’t against the implementation of polies meant to improve the education in the country but that TSC should ensure that the ground is leveled before demanding perfection from them.
However, Kisumu County Director of Education Mr. Isaac Atebe said the issue of TPAD is not negotiable since it borders on the performance of both learners and teachers.
Atebe said those who have not complied should give reasons for the delay.
