Kenyan primary school teachers are flooding Special Needs Education (SNE) courses following Teachers Service Commission’s (TSC) announcement of a critical shortage in special schools and units. The rush is driven by promotions and redeployment opportunities as the Commission tries to address the acute shortage of trained SNE teachers.
Why Teachers are Enrolling for SNE Courses
The rush is due to several reasons:
- TSC’s Staffing Shortage – The Commission has confirmed that special institutions lack enough trained teachers and is redeploying those with SNE qualifications.
- Deployment Opportunities – Teachers with accredited SNE diplomas will be posted to special needs schools in phases.
- Career Growth & Promotions – Teachers with an SNE diploma are at an advantage when it comes to promotions and salary increments.
- Job Security & Market Demand – The shortage of SNE teachers is a stable career opportunity for those with specialized training.
SNE Diploma Specializations
TSC has listed the following specializations under the SNE diploma program:
- Autism
- Hearing Impairment (HI)
- Visual Impairment (VI)
- Deafblind Education
- Intellectual Disabilities (MH)
- Physical Disabilities (PD)
- Emotional & Behavioral Difficulties
- Gifted & Talented Education
- Learning Disabilities
- Inclusive Education
Who Qualifies for an SNE Diploma?
To qualify for an SNE diploma a teacher must:
- Have a Primary Teacher Education (PTE) certificate (P1 certificate).
- Have at least 2 years of teaching experience.
- Enroll in a KNEC-approved college offering an SNE diploma program.
TSC’s Phased Deployment of SNE Teachers
TSC has phased deployment of SNE teachers. The deployment is happening in phases due to budget constraints:
- Phase 1: September 2024
- Phase 2: January 2025
- Phase 3: June 2025The Commission has also revealed that 5,362 teachers are needed to fill the current gaps in special schools. So far, 1,763 teachers were deployed to special institutions in May 2024, with an additional 3,600 teachers to be deployed in 2025.
How Teachers are Being Selected for Deployment
TSC has been collecting information from teachers who want to be deployed to special schools. The details collected are:
- Teacher Name & TSC Number
- County, Sub-County and Zone
- Current School & Proposed Special School or Unit
- Phone Number
- Area of SNE Specialization (e.g. Autism, HI, VI, etc.)
Implications for the Education Sector
The surge in SNE courses is a good move towards improving education for learners with disabilities in Kenya. With more trained teachers, special needs schools will get adequate staffing and the quality of education and support to learners with disabilities will improve.
Also, the structured deployment process ensures that trained teachers are posted to institutions where they can utilize their skills well. This is in line with Kenya’s inclusive education agenda and the government’s commitment to improving education for all learners.