How TSC disqualified graduate teachers

By Nicholas Anyuor

Every year, local universities release thousands of graduate teachers to the job market with hope the employer, Teachers’ Service Commission, will absorb them.

However, the question on whether universities produce qualified teachers in accordance with the TSC policies and guidelines remains a matter to be dealt with.

TSC policies may now force students who want to pursue the teaching profession at the university to do some enquiries with the TSC on legibility for employment after studies.

Recently, the just-concluded recruitment of teachers left many graduates out because, according to the TSC policies, they were not qualified to teach secondary school students.

According to TSC, for one to qualify to teach in secondary school level, s/he must have studied and passed the teaching subject(s) at the same level.

Upgrade low grades

One would only qualify to teach the respective subjects if s/he scored at least grade C+ (plus) at high school, before joining the university. Alternatively, the candidate must have upgraded the subject(s) grade.

Anyone without these qualifications cannot be allowed to teach high school students in Kenya.

Lucas is such unfortunate teacher in Nyanza. He has been turned down by the TSC twice and now, he says, he is a frustrated professional. He graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Education, with Geography and CRE as his teaching subjects. However, he never studied CRE at secondary level.

Because of this, the TSC does not recognise Lucas as a qualified teacher and will not be allowed to enter a classroom unless he goes back to the university to do enhancement courses.

"I tried twice and the commission could not allow me in. They treat me as unqualified. I know I am not alone and many others might also fall into the same trap," he says.

Nevertheless, the universities have faced serious criticism over why they allow students to take courses they never studied at high school even after TSC has given out such guidelines.

"When I joined first year, I was assured, by the university, there was nothing wrong with taking CRE as a teaching subject. I was not alone," says Lucas.

Kisumu West DEO William Kamiguna says the TSC guidelines used during recruitment dropped many graduates after they were rendered unqualified teachers.

TSC mandate

For example, he says, if one never studied, say, history at high school, s/he is not supposed to teach the same at that particularly level even after graduating with first class honours from the university unless s/he took a bridging course after KCSE.

"These are TSC guidelines that have to be followed, but the worry is why universities are still allowing this to happen. Many people have been dropped and something has to be done," he told Standard Education.

The constitution mandates TSC to set standards for teachers and recruit them on behalf of the Government. Chapter 13 states that, "TSC shall review the standard of education and training of persons entering the teaching service and advise the nation on matters relating to the teaching profession."

This means whatever it gives as a guideline for recruitment is final and that it is now up to the universities to ensure this rule is adhered to.

Now for such unlucky graduates who want to remain high school teachers, must go back to lecture halls for enhancement courses. Here, they will be taking additional and relevant units that will make them recognised by TSC as competent teachers.

The commission says it has written to universities to consider the guidelines while training teachers.

No shortcut to rules

TSC’s high school staffing officer Mary Rotich says some universities have responded positively while others were still taking their time. She cites Egerton and Kenyatta as some of the universities that are already offering courses according to the requirements.

"We hope all universities will respond positively and have everything done. It is a serious issue that should be adhered to urgently to help the situation," she says.

Ms Rotich says TSC has had discussions with the institutions and plans were underway for the institutions to re-admit graduates for the enhancement courses.

"Some had gone for those courses and we have employed them. For those who want to teach at high schools, they will have to take the courses and we shall employ them," Rotich asserts.

Undermining profession

Teachers are also urging the universities to take action and solve the matter immediately.

Former Migori Heads Association Chairperson Joseph Ayogo supports TSC. He says it is improper for someone who had scored less than a C+ in a subject or did not study it at all to be allowed to teach the same at high school, saying this would amount to "undermining the profession".

"If we stick to these guidelines, we shall produce very competent teachers and the quality of education offered at secondary schools will definitely improve," he adds.

Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers Secretary-General Akelo Misori says the union will not interfere with the TSC’s policies since the constitution mandates it to dictate whom to recruit.

"It is the responsibility of TSC to put the requirements they think will produce quality and professional workers," he adds.

However, Misori wonders why universities would train teachers to, later, be rejected by the employer. He advises those who intend to pursue the teaching profession at the university to first liaise with TSC so that they might not be exposed to similar scenario.

Misori gives an example of Malaysia where top ten students from high schools are the ones allowed to take teaching as a profession at universities before any other.

Job for the best

He says teaching is a profession that should be recognised and teachers must be those who have performed well both at high school and universities in the subjects they want to teach.

"We shouldn’t present teaching as a profession for anyone. We want professionally qualified teachers in classroom. It is on this basis that we even want some workers at TSC to be professional teachers who understand the profession well," he adds.