By Kage Njorge
The Kenya National Union of Teachers has expressed concern over a teaching delivery monitoring tool, being implemented byTeachers Service Commission (TSC) to track conduct of teaching programmes in schools.
The union is opposed to the Teachers Performance Appraisal and Development tool – Tpad, saying it may be used to victimize teachers when seeking promotion and unfairly blame them for poor results.
Murang’a South, Knut branch, executive secretary,John Njata, argues that the Tpad instrument could be used by TSC to frustrate teachers on issues, they have no direct control on , like dwindling performance of candidates at national examinations.
The unionist claimed teachers countrywide are feeling intimidated and are fearful by the kind of commitment the tool is demanding of them.
“The instrument is taking too much time from the teachers filling the detailed document instead of teaching,” he lamented.
“This Tpad document has reduced teachers to clerks to the detriment of teacher, student quality contact time in classrooms,” he noted.
TSC states that the purpose of Tpad is to improve teaching standards through a systemic approval with a view to evaluate teacher’sperformance and promote professional development forenhanced learning outcomes.
The objectives are to provide quality education to learners, give teachers opportunities to improve on their performance competencies, analyze teachers performance gaps and provide support for professional development.
