Government and Policy

Requirements, Responsibilities, And Interview Areas For Head Teachers’ Positions

BY Getrude Mathayo · May 8, 2023 02:05 pm

The Teachers Service Commission, TSC, developed two promotional grades for heads of Primary schools. This is contained in a Career Progression Guidelines Circular of 2018. The two headship grades for primary schools are Head Teacher (T-Scale 10) and Senior Head Teacher (T-Scale 11).

The Head Teacher (T- Scale 10) is a promotional grade for institutional administrators in primary schools. The Head Teacher is the lead educator and the accounting officer in the school. He/she is responsible for the provision of leadership in the implementation of the curriculum, educational policies, and programs.

He/she also leads in the development and implementation of the school’s strategy, work plans, and budgets, and supervises the operations of the school.

On the other hand, the Senior Headteacher (T-Scale 11) is a promotional grade for institutional administrators in primary schools. The Senior Head Teacher is the lead educator and the accounting officer in the school. He/she is responsible for the provision of leadership in the implementation of the curriculum, educational policies, and programs.

He/she also leads in the development and implementation of the school’s strategy, work plans, and budgets, and supervises the operations of the school.

He/she is responsible for the provision of leadership in the implementation of the curriculum, educational policies, and programs. He/she also leads in the development and implementation of the school’s strategy, work plans, and budgets, and supervises the operations of the school.

Requirements For Appointment For Headteacher

According to the Career Progression Guidelines by TSC, to qualify for appointment to the grade of Head Teacher, a teacher must: –

Have served as Deputy Head Teacher II TSC Scale 9 for a minimum period of three (3) years;
Be in possession of a Bachelor of Education degree in or its equivalent;
Have a satisfactory rating in the performance appraisal process;
Have successfully undertaken the relevant TPD modules;
Have demonstrated ability to supervise, mentor and provide professional support to other teachers;
Have a valid Teaching Certificate;
Meet the requirements of Chapter Six (6) of the Constitution; and
Meet any other requirement the Commission may deem necessary.

Requirements For Appointment To Senior Headteacher

Similarly, to qualify for appointment to the grade of Senior Head Teacher, a teacher must:-

Have served as Head Teacher or Deputy Head Teacher I T-Scale 10 for a minimum period of three (3) years;
Be in possession of a Bachelor of Education degree in or its equivalent;
Have a satisfactory rating in the performance appraisal process and/or performance contracting;
Have successfully undertaken the relevant (TPD) modules;
Have a valid Teaching Certificate;
Have demonstrated the ability to supervise, mentor and provide professional support to other teachers;
Meet the requirements of Chapter Six (6) of the Constitution
Meet any other requirement the Commission may deem necessary.

Promotion to these grades is competitive and subject to the availability of vacancies in the establishment. Since the two grades are promotional, those wishing to hold them are first subjected to interviews by TSC.

The Commission shall advertise the available vacancies and applicants who shall be shortlisted would be subjected to interviews.

Duties And Responsibilities Of Headteachers, Senior Headteachers

Prepare lesson plans, lesson notes, timetables, and schemes of work and maintain academic standards in the school to ensure that the syllabus is covered in time for evaluation;

Teach the subjects of specialization to impart knowledge, skills, and attitudes to learners;

Evaluate learners on subjects of specialization and prepare learners for national and other examinations;

Coordinate and provide guidance and counseling services to teachers, non-teaching staff, and learners and instill norms and values for harmonious coexistence;

Ensure proper discipline is maintained in the school by teachers, non-teaching staff, and learners to create a conducive environment for learning.

Supervise the interpretation and implementation of the curriculum, by ensuring teachers prepare schemes of work, lesson plans, lesson notes, and other professional documents.

Ensure that the necessary instructional materials are sourced, availed, and utilized by teachers and learners to support curriculum implementation.

Be in charge of stores, requisition, and proper maintenance of inventory for accountability and optimum utilization.

Promote harmonious relations and linkages between the school and stakeholders such as the local community, parents, and private sector organizations; ensure the safety and health of learners;

Ensure the security of institutional resources.

Introduce new ideas and programs for improvement in teaching and learning in the subjects of specialization.

Engage learners in curricular and co-curricular activities so as to identify, nurture and develop talents.

Embrace teamwork through collaborative planning and teaching to ensure consistency and improvement in curriculum delivery.

Serve as a role model and maintain learner discipline to create a conducive environment for learning;

Provide guidance and counseling services to learners so as to instill norms and values for harmonious co-existence;

Participate in the curriculum development process, its implementation, and evaluation so as to ensure that the curriculum is relevant and achievable in schools.

Interpret the curriculum in all subjects to ensure effective teaching and learning.

Organize workshops/seminars/symposiums to share ideas and further knowledge in subject areas;

Organize remedial actions to support learners with performance gaps.

Ensure learners are adequately prepared, registered, and presented for the National Examinations in accordance with the Kenya National Examination Council Regulations.

Interpret and implement policy decisions that pertain to training, recruitment, and deployment of staff in compliance with relevant laws and regulations.

Ensure appraisal of staff in the school.

Promote the welfare of all staff and learners within the school for motivation, personal and professional growth.

Manage issues of succession in the school.

Serve as the accounting officer of the school to ensure prudent utilization and accounting for the financial resources in the school.

Manage the school’s physical facilities for proper maintenance and upgrading on a regular basis.

Oversee procurement of goods and services, and maintain inventories to ensure the availability of the necessary facilities and items.

Organize staff, Board of Management, and parents’ meetings.

Serve as secretary to the Board of Management.

Facilitate access and retention of learners in the school.

Any other as may be assigned.