How TSC will score teachers in ongoing recruitment

TSC Chief Executive Nancy Macharia said another 1,000 qualified primary school teachers will be promoted to teach in secondary schools. [Wilberforce Okwiri, Standard]

As recruitment of 10,000 teachers gets underway, those who graduated in 2015 or earlier have a head start as they will be scored higher during the interviews.

A recruitment manual The Standard has seen shows teachers who graduated in 2015 or earlier will be awarded 25 marks, as those who left college in subsequent years get five marks less.

At the same time, teachers who are holders of Masters degrees, as well as university graduates who scored First Class Honours, will also be awarded higher scores, according to the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) marking sheet.

Details of the recruitment guidelines show that First Class degree or Masters holders will be awarded 40 points.

Second Class Honours Upper Division degree holders will get 35 marks. Those with a pass will get a maximum of 30 points.

Diploma holders with a distinction will score up to 40 points as those with credit get a maximum of 35. Those with a pass will score a maximum of 30 points.

Teachers who participated in the internship programme will get an extra 30 points, increasing their chances of getting the job.

Of the 10,000 teachers set to be hired, 5,000 will be for secondary school and 1,000 for primary schools.

All new teachers will serve on permanent and pensionable terms of service.

Another 2,987 teachers are also being hired to replace those who exited secondary school teaching service through natural attrition and retirement. Another 927 teachers will be recruited to replace those who exited primary teaching service.

TSC Chief Executive Nancy Macharia said another 1,000 qualified primary school teachers will be promoted to teach in secondary schools.

Overall, Bachelor of Education holders with a mean grade of C (plain) and similar grades in two teaching subjects at KCSE and above and who have taken a diploma in education are eligible to apply.

Also Bachelor of Education holders with a mean grade of C (plain) and a similar grade in two teaching subjects at KCSE and went through the A-Level system will also be considered.

And Bachelor of Education holders with a mean grade of C (plain) and a similar grade in two teaching subjects at KCSE and undertook a bridging/pre-university certificate course before December 31, 2015, will also be given chance.

However, all graduate teachers should have studied a minimum of eight-course units in each teaching subject.

“In addition, the teacher must have studied special methods in their teaching subjects of choice together with a minimum of three months teaching practice,” said Dr Macharia.

The guidelines also say teachers previously employed under contract and whose services were terminated due to inadequate units in teaching subjects and have since obtained enhancement certificates with required units can apply.

“Applicants presenting enhancement certificates or official transcripts in teaching subjects from recognised institutions qualify for employment if they scored at least C+ in the enhanced subjects at KCSE,” the guidelines read.

However, there must be proof they took the units on teaching methods of the subject throughout the undergraduate course.

TSC says applicants whose training is in subjects currently not in the curriculum do not qualify, irrespective of the fact they have undertaken a Post Graduate Diploma in Education (PGDE) or enhancement.

Other factors will be communication ability and presentation skills with one point each.

Having special talents and willingness to participate in co-curricular activities and other duties assigned will also attract some points.

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