The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) has unveiled reforms that could open doors for thousands of educators by easing registration requirements and harmonising entry grades.
Contained in the draft Teachers Service Commission (Amendment) Bill, 2025, the proposals formally recognise Montessori-trained teachers and allow secondary school educators with single-subject specialisations to register.
The changes are designed to align teacher recruitment with Kenya’s competency-based education (CBE) framework while resolving long-standing conflicts between the TSC and the Ministry of Education.
Teachers trained under the Montessori curriculum, previously dismissed as foreign, will have a clear pathway into the formal profession. Recognition by the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (KICD) now enables these educators, often employed in private pre-schools, to seek registration with TSC.
ALSO READ:
How inadequacies in the vetted and approved mainstream course books bread commercial revision books
Secondary school teachers will also benefit from the removal of the requirement to hold two teaching subjects. The reform responds to the growing demand for specialised courses such as Double Mathematics and Double Music under the CBE system.
The Bill harmonises admission requirements that had previously caused friction between the Ministry and TSC. For example, while the Ministry required a mean grade of C plain in the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) for Diploma in Secondary Education, TSC demanded a C+. Under the new framework, a Diploma in Primary Education requires a C plain overall, while a Diploma in Secondary Education requires a C plain with at least a C+ in the chosen teaching subjects.
During a briefing to the National Assembly’s Committee on Education, TSC Chairperson Jamleck Muturi and Legal Director Cavin Anyuor outlined the broader impact of the amendments. They said the reforms followed extensive negotiations with the Ministry aimed at removing barriers and widening access for qualified educators.
ALSO READ:
MoE cracks down on ‘ghost learners’ scandal, 28 directors issued with show cause letters
The Bill also proposes the establishment of the Institute of Teacher Support and Professional Development to oversee mandatory continuous training.
In addition, TSC would gain authority to decentralise services through zonal offices, bringing registration and administrative support closer to the more than 400,000 teachers currently in service.
By Masaki Enock
.You can also follow our social media pages on Twitter: Education News KE and Facebook: Education News Newspaper for timely updates.
>>> Click here to stay up-to-date with trending regional stories
>>> Click here to read more informed opinions on the country’s education landscape
>>> Click here to stay ahead with the latest national news.
