TSC

Teachers Service Commission (TSC) officials start a countrywide inspection of schools on Tuesday ahead of national examinations, which kick off on November 1.

At least 1.5 million candidates will this year sit for Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) and Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) examinations.

The commissioners will also monitor how the performance contracting for principals and teachers is progressing.

The teachers have been appraised twice this year and this is the third time the TSC is visiting schools in a bid to ensure their staff are well prepared to handle the forthcoming examinations following the signing of the new performance contracts.

According to Kenya Secondary Schools Heads Association (Kessha) vice-chairman Indimuli Kahi, the visit by the TSC commissioners is crucial as the principals will also share with them the challenges facing teachers since they signed the contracts.

Mr Kahi said the inspection is welcomed and described it as the best way to address some of the underlying issues affecting teachers on the ground.

“As Kessha we believe this is a move in the right direction because unlike in the past practice where the commissioners would sit in their offices in Nairobi and wait to receive the reports from the ground,” said Mr Indimuli.

MANY CHALLENGES

Mr Kahi, who is also the principal of Chavakali Boys High School, said teachers on the ground are facing many challenges in the implementation of the new performance contracts.

On delayed promotion of teachers, Mr Indimuli observed that some members were due for promotion but are still stagnating in their grades.

However, Mr Kahi did not indicate how many teachers had so far been promoted and those whose promotions cases were still pending at the TSC.

“As Kessha we have not documented the exact numbers of teachers who have not been promoted but the delay in addressing this sticky issue is causing concerns and anxiety,” said Mr Indimuli.

He observed that some of the teachers are faced with mandatory retirement in the next one or two years as they are approaching 60 years.

The Kessha official further noted that some of their members had attended the interviews and urged the TSC commissioners to address the issue when they visit their institutions.

However, he said unlike in the past, there has been an improvement in the promotion of teachers after the government allocated enough funds to TSC.

Fuente noticia: http://www.nation.co.ke/news/TSC-to-inspect-schools-countrywide-ahead-of-exams/1056-3377892-llcg48/index.html