TSC mandate to cover basic education

The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) is set to have an expanded mandate to include posting teachers to childcare facilities across the country.

The Government could also soon pay school fees for needy children enrolled in private schools but at the rate commensurate with fees payable for those in public schools.

Top students in every county and constituency shall be identified and the poor ones given Government bursaries to make sure they continue with their education in public secondary schools.

The details are contained in the Basic Education (Amendment) Bill that also proposes school sponsors be given more powers in deciding who is appointed head teacher or principal of public schools.

MPs concluded debate on the bill last week. Chairperson of the National Assembly’s Education Committee Sabina Chege (Murang’a) and her deputy Julius Melly (Tinderet), rallied the House in backing the changes that also allow the Cabinet Secretary of Education Jacob Kaimenyi to accredit other examining bodies aside from the Government body.

Section 7 of the amendments proposes that TSC consults the sponsors of schools on the persons to be appointed as head teachers, principals, deputy head teachers and deputy principals in public-sponsored schools.

The amendment also seeks to give sponsors of schools more roles in their management.

The sponsors would be expected to participate in the decision-making process leading to change of status from public-sponsored schools to the national, extra-county or government school category.

But it is the proposed expansion of functions of the TSC that is set to end the simmering row between the teachers’ employer and unions on one side and the county governments on the other.

Under the proposed laws, the TSC shall assign teachers to all lower levels of public-school learning. The TSC shall also assign teachers to all polytechnics. MPs have proposed under Section 26 (4) that: “Pursuant to articles 235 and 237 of the Constitution, the TSC shall assign teachers to public institutions and training used for conducting pre-primary education, childcare facilities, home craft centres and village polytechnics.”

Currently, TSC only assigns teachers to public primary and secondary schools and technical training institutions.

Once passed, this amendment to the Basic Education Act is set to bring to an end the turf wars between county governments and the TSC over who should assign teachers to basic education institutions.

Both the governors and the TSC argue that the Constitution places management of Early Childhood Development Education (ECDE) under their control.