TSC To Remove Bachelor Of Education Degree For Teachers

The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) has made changes to course requirements undertaken by tutors before they can join the workforce.

The commission had resorted to scrapping off Bachelor of Education Degree that thousands of teachers pursued before securing employment according to the report.

Teachers will henceforth be expected to pursue a Bachelor of Arts course or a Bachelor of Science for a period of three years.

Teachers will also be expected to enroll in the post-graduate course for a period of one year before they are cleared to apply for a TSC number after attaining the Degree.

TSC Quality Assurance Director Reuben Nthamburi said that the new change is expected to take effect in September this year.

The move to switch academic requirements for teachers was informed by the ongoing reforms brought about by the introduction of the Competence-Based Curriculum (CBC). This was also revealed by Reuben Nthamburi

“In order to professionalize the teaching service and improve the quality of education, the commission needs to review entry grades to the teaching service and advice the national government.

According to Reuben, this will raise the standards of the teaching profession and attract more quality grades.

For now, those looking to pursue the aforementioned courses will be required to attain a C+ grade in their Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) and a minimum of B- (minus) in either sciences or arts.

The phased-out course was introduced in 1972 at a time the employer could commission untrained teachers after suffering an acute shortage. University officials and lecturers were, however, angered with the move arguing that it was unnecessary and unfounded

According to the university officials, if the system is adopted, many Education departments in Universities across the country would be rendered jobless.

Education CS George Magoha has previously confirmed that the state had followed CBC rollout across the country to the latter to ensure that the new system is adopted uniformly.