TSC issues guidelines on training of CBC teachers handling grades 7,8,9

By Roy Hezron

The Teachers’ Service Commission (TSC) has trained the first cohort of 60,000 secondary school teachers on Competency Based Curriculum and Competency Based Assessment.

The trained teachers will handle the Junior Secondary School (JSS) at Grades 7, 8 and 9.

The teachers were trained using the cascade model which requires that the master trainers train the Trainers of Trainers (TOTs) and thereafter offer professional support during the face to face teachers’ training in the county and sub county levels.

TSC conducted the training from April 25, 2022 to May 13, 2022.  The face to face training of the TOTs started from May 2, 2022 to May 6, 2022.

TSC Director Quality Assurance and Standards Dr. Reuben Nthamburi  said the target group for the training were  all the teachers who will handle grades 7, 8 and 9 in both public (regular and Special Needs Education-SNE) and private schools.

This first level of training targeted teachers of Languages (English, Kiswahili, Foreign and Indigenous languages and Kenya Sign Language), Pure Sciences (Biology, Chemistry, Physics and Health Education), Applied Sciences (Agriculture, Home Science, Computer Studies and Mathematics), Mathematics, Humanities (Social Studies (Citizenship, Geography, History); Religious Studies (Christian, Islamic and Hindu Religious Education) and Live Skills), Creative Arts and Technical subjects( Pre-vocational and Pre-career Business studies, Music, Sports and Physical Education).

The teachers were clustered according to departments.

Secondary schools each nominated six teachers drawn from the above mentioned categories. The nominated teachers were trained by Trainers of Trainers from May 9, 2022 to May 13, 2022 at selected venues at the county level with strict adherence to Ministry of Health Covid-19 prevention protocols.

The TOTs were subject tutors from teacher training colleges who are subject panelists with Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (KICD) both regular and SNE,  Curriculum Support Officers (CSOs) with Bachelor’s degree in Education with two teaching subjects’ combination both regular and SNE,  TSC Sub-County Directors with Bachelor’s degree in Education with two teaching subjects’ combination  and secondary school teacher champions drawn  from Languages, Pure Sciences, Applied Sciences, Mathematics, Humanities and Technical subjects.

The TOTs were also Secondary school SNE Champion teachers.

TSC Regional and County Directors were required to identify and invite the TOTs for both regular and SNE for trainings that was held at the county level, identify and invite six (6) teachers per school for both regular and SNE for face-to-face training, invite six (6) teachers from private schools, inform the schools to cater for transport and meals expenses and identify, procure and prepare training venues.

TSC Secretary and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Dr. Nancy Macharia announced during the release of Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) at KNEC headquarters in Nairobi on March 28, 2022 that the Commission had planned to train 60,000 JSSs teachers in CBC and CBA with effect from April 25, 2022.

“The training will adopt the cascade model of training. It will start at the national level to the county and sub county levels. Teachers will be trained in specific learning areas in Languages, Pure Sciences, Applied Sciences, Mathematics, Humanities and Technical subjects,” said Dr. Macharia.

She noted that TSC has continued to prepare all teachers for the phased implementation of the CBC and consistently ensured that relevant teachers are trained for all levels.

“The total number of teachers trained in CBC in the last 3 years is 229, 292,” she explained.

She further explained that TSC has been allocated Shs 2.5billion in the 2022/2023 financial year to be used in the recruitment of 5,000 teachers on permanent terms.

She also confirmed that TSC has been allocated Shs 1.2 billion to hire 6,000 interns as a stopgap measure to address the 114,581-teacher shortage in the schools.

“During the impending recruitment of teachers’ exercise, we will put more emphasis on staffing sub-county secondary schools, which admit the bulk of learners.” She stated.