The Teacher Service Commission is an independent Commission established in the current constitution mandated to register, employ,promote, transfer and discipline teacher. The commission has undergone robust changes that has improved the welfare of teachers ever since the Dr. Nancy Macharia assumed her role as CEO in 2015.
Last week, KUCCPS had announced that it was not mandatory for the tutor trainee to have excelled in Mathematics to pursue education courses.TSC has however rubbished the proposal by university to remove Mathematics as a compulsory subjects for students joining degree and diploma teaching program.
In a bid to improve the quality of teaching, the Commission has in the recent past introduced various measures ranging from trainings to entry criteria of those willing to be teachers.
In such a move, the Commission has already done away with p1 certificate in favour of diploma.
For this reason, all students who would wish to be teachers either primary or Secondary must do at least a diploma in education.
“We are saying that teachers even at diploma level, must have mathematics because under Competency Based Curriculum, there’s a unit called measuring and evaluation and assessment in methodology,” said Dr. Reuben Nthamburi, TSC quality Assurance and Standard Director.
According to TSC, for one to undertake a diploma in education should a minimum grade of C plus in KCSE and above C plus in the two teaching subjects, at least C plain in English and C plain in Mathematics for science based courses and D plus in Mathematics for non sciences. For degree holders,one must have scored C plus a nice in two teaching subjects and both in Math and English.
He however urged for further consultations with more Stakeholders before a decision is made.
The position by TSC will be big blow to the upcoming teachers who performed poorly in mathematics but want to be teachers of humanities.
TSC Minimum Academic and Professional Requirements for Registration of Teachers
| GRADE | CURRENT REQUIREMENT | |
| a | ECDE | CERTIFICATE |
| i. Minimum of CPE/KCPE plus ECDE Certificate from KNEC. | ||
| ii. Minimum mean grade D+(Plus) at KCSE and ECDE Certificate from KNEC. | ||
| iii. Minimum mean grade D (Plain) at KCSE, KNEC proficiency certificate, ECDE Certificate from KNEC Diploma | ||
| DIPLOMA | ||
| i. Mean grade C (Plain) at KCSE and ECDE Certificate from KNEC. | ||
| ii. Mean grade C+ (Plus) and above for University Diploma | ||
| DEGREE | ||
| i. Mean grade C+ (Plus) and above | ||
| b | PTE | i. Minimum grade C Plain in KCSE and above |
| ii. PTE Certificate from KNEC | ||
| iii. Mean grade of C- (minus) for visually and hearing impaired persons | ||
| C | Diploma in Education | i. Minimum grade C+( Plus) in KCSE and above and C+ (Plus) in the two subjects specialization. |
| ii. At least C (Plain) in English | ||
| iii. C (plain) in Mathematics for Science-based courses | ||
| iv. D+( plus) in Mathematics in non-science based courses | ||
| d | Diploma in Education for Visually and hearing impaired | i. Minimum grade C (Plain) in KCSE and above. |
| ii. At least C Minus in English | ||
| iii. C- (Minus) in Mathematics for Science based courses | ||
| iv. D (Plain) in Mathematics in non-science based courses | ||
| e | Bachelor of Education | i. Minimum mean grade C+ (plus) and above or its equivalent. |
| ii. C+ (Plus) in two subjects of specialization | ||
| f | Bachelor of Arts/ Bachelor of Science | i. Minimum grade C+ (Plus) in KCSE and above and C+ (Plus) in the two subjects of specialization. |
| ii. Post graduate Diploma in Education (PGDE) |
