- TSC panellists should strictly follow the score sheet during Phase Two of promotional interviews, avoiding unnecessary personal questions unrelated to assessment criteria.
- TSC should also induct panellists on proper questioning, time management and professionalism ahead of the county-level interview phase.
As Phase One of the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) promotional interviews came to an end on Tuesday, September 15, attention now turns to Phase Two, which will be conducted at the county level for secondary school teachers. As the next phase begins, panellists should strictly adhere to the provided score sheet and focus on questions relevant to the assessment, rather than spending valuable interview time on unnecessary stories, lengthy discussions, or unrelated personal questions.
There have been reports from some sub-counties in the North Rift, Nyanza and Eastern regions of teachers being reluctant to appear before certain panels, with concerns raised about panellists who allegedly went beyond issues relevant to the promotional interview process. According to Jantex from Kapsabet, some panellists were perceived as being bothersome by delving into teachers’ personal affairs instead of concentrating on the areas outlined in the assessment. “Questions about whether a teacher is married, whether they drink, or what they do at home are not necessary when conducting a professional promotional interview,” Jantex said. Such personal questions, when unrelated to the prescribed assessment criteria, can take up valuable interview time and make candidates uncomfortable.
The concerns highlight the need for TSC to thoroughly induct and brief all panellists before the interview days. A comprehensive induction should clearly explain the purpose of the interviews, the assessment criteria, proper use of the score sheet, appropriate questioning, time management and the importance of maintaining professionalism throughout the exercise. Proper preparation of panellists would help ensure that all candidates are subjected to a consistent assessment process, and that panellists understand their role is to assess candidates against the prescribed criteria, not to investigate their private lives or engage them in discussions unrelated to the promotional exercise.
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The score sheet is intended to provide a structured and consistent framework for assessing candidates. Panellists should therefore use it as their primary guide throughout the interview process, since sticking to the prescribed criteria helps ensure that candidates are assessed on the same relevant areas and that marks are awarded on the basis of the requirements of the exercise. Panellists should also be mindful of the limited time allocated to each candidate, as unnecessary questions and extended conversations can divert attention from the areas that are actually being assessed. Questions should be clear, purposeful and directly connected to the criteria on the score sheet.
Consistency and professionalism are particularly important during promotional interviews. Candidates should be given an opportunity to demonstrate their qualifications, experience, knowledge and suitability based on the established assessment criteria, rather than being drawn into discussions about matters that have no bearing on the process.
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As Phase Two gets underway at the county level, TSC should ensure that panellists are adequately prepared before they take their seats. A thorough induction, coupled with strict adherence to the score sheet, can help make the process orderly, professional and focused on the actual purpose of the promotional interviews. The score sheet should remain the central reference point: ask what is necessary, assess what is required, and award marks based on the stipulated criteria.
By Ben Chepchieng
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