Teachers from different sub-counties turned up in large numbers, proudly carrying their Form Four certificates as proof of their strong performance in the KCSE examinations.
The rush followed an announcement by the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) regarding a forthcoming programme, in partnership with the World Bank, that will allow serving P1 teachers who scored a grade C or C+ in two teaching subjects—and who do not yet hold a diploma or degree—to be upgraded to teach in junior schools.
Education News revealed that many teachers from Western, Nyanza, Rift Valley, and Eastern regions had what the TSC officers described as ‘smart grades’.
“How will you term a teacher who had an aggregate of C plus and A in Mathematics and B plus in Physics?” asked one Jael, a TSC field officer.
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Many teachers who were interviewed were quick to point out that it was not their below-average performance that led them to join primary teacher training colleges, as often believed by their colleagues in junior and secondary schools.
“In the 2016 KCSE, I scored an aggregate of B plain, but the cut-off to university was high. My parents took me to a primary teacher training college so that I would later educate myself,” commented Bernard from Bomet.
In related development, teachers who went through the 7-3-2-4 system of education have lamented over the lack of clear guidelines on their qualifications.
“Some of our colleagues were turned back because the TSC officers in the subcounties didn’t understand our grading system,” lamented Odinya from Siaya county.
The TSC issued a circular stating that all serving P1 teachers with an aggregate of C and C+ in the KCSE, with a C+ in two teaching subjects, are required to submit their details to the sub-county Directors, who will then forward them to the County Directors, who will submit them to the headquarters.
By Naboth Murunga
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