TSC to introduce new study leave policy
By Roy Hezron
The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) is reviewing the teachers Study Leave Policy to harmonize it with the Code of Regulations for Teachers (CORT) and feature the changes in the teaching services.
The commission pointed out that it had to review and update the policy due to a number of issues like the introduction of the Competency Based Curriculum (CBC), subsequent introduction of new courses in institutions of higher learning, as well as emerging external factors like the Covid-19 pandemic.
The last circular on study leave policy was issued in December 2012 while CORT was last reviews in 2015 and as such, there has been disharmony between the two documents.
The Commission’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Dr. Nancy Njeri Macharia stated that the policy guideline will address the gaps that were identified overtime and also take care of emerging issues like pandemics, global trends on technology and ongoing curriculum reforms in the country.
“TSC is working towards making the services of its clients more efficient. Towards this end, the Commission has been developing the skills of its employees. The Commission in 2021, developed policy guidelines to manage the study leave of its employees. The aim of this policy is to provide a level playing ground for all teachers by helping them to acquire skills, knowledge, attitudes and competencies that are necessary to improve performance. The new policy will also prepare them for higher responsibilities and career progression,” stated Dr. Macharia in the draft policy document.
Education News obtained a copy of the Draft Policy document which outlined the guidelines the new policy will introduce once approved. These guidelines include that any teacher appointed or deployed by the commission to an administrative position who takes study leave for more than six (6) months shall be required to relinquish such a position.
Additionally, teachers pursuing Masters degree in arts courses through school based or part-time programmes will qualify for a maximum of 3 months’ study leave to carry out research or practicum. Such leave cannot be extended.
Those undertaking part time Masters in Science based and technical courses will be granted a one-year leave to carry out their research. The leave shall not be extended.
The proposed policy also states that the extension of study leave shall be limited to a maximum of three (3) months for masters and one (1) year for PhD without pay.
Currently, teachers pursuing Master’s degrees both in arts and sciences through school based or part time programmes only qualify for a maximum period of three (3) months with no extension to carry out their research.
The proposed policy states that there shall not be more than one teacher on study leave from the same department at any one time. The number of primary school teachers on study leave shall not exceed 2 per cent of the country’s primary school teacher population.
The new guidelines also state that teachers who will fail to submit their semester progress reports, results slips or transcripts to the TSC Headquarters at the end of each semester will have their study leave cancelled. If they were on pay during their study leave, their salaries will be stopped and the Commission will recover salaries and allowances paid during the period of study.
“The Commission is committed to providing an environment that is favorable for professional and skills development of employees to help them effectively deliver on their mandate,” noted Dr. Macharia in the document.
Further, the proposed guidelines also state that should there be interruptions that affect all learning institutions, for instance during the outbreak of Covid-19 in March 2020, such that no learning takes place; extension should be granted with pay for those on study leave with pay.
Furthermore, teachers with disciplinary cases who haven’t completed two years after reinstatement and those who will not pass their courses will not qualify for study leave.
Any teacher on study leave who wishes to change the area of study or institution of learning will now be required to seek the approval of the Commission prior to such change.
“All teachers will seek for course approval from the Commission before undertaking any course. Any teacher wishing to be considered for scholarship must meet the conditions of the policy and must apply for the scholarship through the Commission,” reads the draft policy in part.
The teachers who will qualify for the leave apart from those listed in the CORT are those who have worked for TSC for a minimum of five (5) years. Exceptions to this rule are teachers who might have lost their sense of sight or hearing and need rehabilitation to deliver services as expected.
“A teacher admitted to a school for the deaf or blind to learn adaptive skills when incapacitated while in employment of the Commission will be required to produce a medical report and an admission letter from a recognized corrective institution,” reads the draft policy in part.
Teachers who have served for a minimum of three (3) years since the expiry of a previous study leave, whether such leave was with or without pay, except for Kenya Institute of Special Education (KISE) certificate cases where one shall be required to serve for one year, will also qualify for study leave.
The teachers who will qualify for study leave with pay are those teachers selected for training locally or abroad by the Commission, Ministry of Education, and Ministry of State for Public Service or any other development partner provided TSC is involved in the identification and selection process.
Others who qualify for study leave are Untrained Graduate Teachers employed by TSC studying for the Post Graduate Diploma in Education (PGDE) in approved Universities, primary/secondary school teachers admitted to KISE to study a Diploma in Special Education and teachers applying for a second masters and have never benefited from a study leave before.
Teachers admitted in accredited local Universities to study for Masters Degrees in History, Geography, Christian and Islamic Religious Education, English, Kiswahili, French, German, Arabic, Fine Art, Art and Design, Music, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Mathematics, Agriculture, Business Studies, Special Education, Computer Science, MEd Technology, Home Science, Curriculum Development, Physical Education, Guidance and Counseling/Education/Psychology/Counseling Psychology, Education Planning and Administration, Entrepreneurship, Project Management and Development; Development, strategic Management; Project Management, Leadership and Management and an education programme whose course outline contents are approved by the TSC will also qualify for study leave with pay.
Those that qualify for study leave without pay are primary school teachers admitted to Diploma Colleges provided the subject studied is in the school curricula and primary school teachers admitted to National Polytechnics or Institutes of Technology for areas relevant to the teaching curricula.
A teacher who wishes to study in an area that is not in the school curricula or in these guidelines, a teacher who has not completed three (3) years after resuming from previous leave, a teacher who is admitted to foreign university and is on self-sponsorship, teachers who secure scholarships through the ministry without involvement of the Commission will qualify for study leave without pay. Others in the same category are teachers admitted to accredited Universities for master’s degree courses in Early Childhood Education, Research, Environmental Studies, HIV Aids, Disaster Management, Gender Based Courses, Poverty Eradication, Sustainable Development, Conflict resolution, Education Communications Technology and Media Studies, teachers studying for PhDs and teachers pursuing same level or lower level course.
