By Our Reporter
The Teachers Service Commission has been urged to promote teachers who do well in extra-curricular activities.
Kenya Secondary Schools Sports Association chairman Peter Orero said teachers who participate in these activities have been ignored despite their immense contribution in the field of sports.
“Some of the teachers who lead students to participate in sports are equally endowed and should be recognised through promotions,” Orero stated.
He however lamented that some school principals deny the teachers leave to participate in sports.
“Teachers in sports must be allowed to go for sports as this plays a critical role in the students’ growth and development,” Orero said.
Orero was speaking during the Kenya Union of Post Primary Teachers (Kuppet), Nairobi branch Annual General Meeting at Meridian Hotel.
During the Kenya Secondary Schools Heads Association Annual Conference held in Mombasa in June, the Teacher Service Commission (TSC) hinted of a plan to promote teachers in sports to become talent managers.
This, subsequently, will see teachers who guide students excel in extracurricular activities appointed to as school administrators.
According to TSC deputy CEO Simon Kavisi, the talent management will be headed by a teacher.
“We are very serious on talent management and will have a teacher appointed to be in charge of the department,” he said.
If implemented, the commission will be keen to have teachers who assist learners participate actively in music, drama, and other extracurricular activities appointed as heads.
This comes at a time when the Competence Based Curriculum encourages teachers to identify the learners’ intrinsic talents, besides passing national examinations.
This is a departure from the past when excellence in academics was given top priority and numerous resources pumped into it.
Administrative positions in Kenya’s primary and secondary schools set ups include that of senior teacher II, Senior teacher I, Deputy Head teacher, and Head teacher.
The positions, which are competitively filled, also include that of the Senior Head teacher, Deputy Principal, Principal, Senior Principal, Senior Master and Senior Mistress.
According to the commission, the policy shift aims to recognise and award principals and teachers who are talented in music, drama and other extracurricular activities.
