Proposed TSC amendment to Regulation 20 sparks call for recognition of experienced graduate teachers

A section of serving teachers has renewed calls for the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) to review Regulation 20 governing deployment to Junior Secondary Schools (JSS), arguing that experienced graduate teachers are being unfairly locked out despite holding relevant qualifications and years of service.

The debate has gained momentum following a submission by a senior primary school teacher with 17 years of experience under the Teachers Service Commission, who holds a Bachelor of Education (Science) degree from Mount Kenya University.

The teacher argues that while he meets the subject-specific requirements in Biology and Agriculture with a C+ grade, his KCSE mean grade of C (plain) has remained the sole barrier to deployment into JSS.

In the memorandum, the teacher notes that the current enforcement of Regulation 20 places greater emphasis on the overall KCSE mean grade rather than subsequent academic progression, professional experience and subject mastery.

He highlights that despite 17 years of classroom experience and consistent TPAD performance ratings averaging 80 percent, his application for deployment was rejected purely based on the original KCSE mean grade.

According to the submission, this approach has resulted in a growing number of qualified graduate teachers remaining in primary schools, even as Junior Secondary Schools continue to face staffing shortages, particularly in Science and Agriculture subjects.

The proposal argues that deploying such teachers would not only address staffing gaps without additional recruitment costs but also strengthen the implementation of the Competency-Based Education (CBE), given their familiarity with learner progression from primary to junior secondary levels.

Among the key recommendations is the introduction of a “grandfather clause” that would allow serving teachers with a Bachelor’s degree in Education, at least a C+ in teaching subjects and over 10 years of experience to qualify for JSS deployment regardless of KCSE mean grade.

The submission also calls for greater weight to be placed on degree qualifications and demonstrated competence rather than entry-level secondary school results for in-service teachers.

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The proposal further suggests that County Directors of Education be granted discretion to recommend experienced teachers for deployment on a case-by-case basis, pending full policy harmonisation.

The debate comes at a time when education stakeholders are pushing for more flexible staffing policies to address inequalities in teacher distribution under the JSS rollout.

By Kithinji Njeru