TSC Introduces Minor Changes to TPAD System to Monitor Teachers During Lessons
The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) has made minor changes to the Teacher Performance Appraisal and Development (TPAD) system to monitor teachers during lessons.
The changes were revealed in early January by TSC County and Sub County officials during a Kenya Primary School Heads Association (KEPSHA) conference for primary school headteachers.
TPAD Changes
TPAD is an open appraisal system where primary and secondary school teachers can self-evaluate themselves and initiate professional development.
Under the new changes:
✅ Peer Lesson Observation Introduced – Teachers can now observe fellow teachers during lessons and fill the lesson observation form.
✅ Non-Admins Can Do Observations – Previously only school administrators could observe teachers in class and fill the lesson observation form. Now non-admin teachers can do the observation.
✅ Less Work for Admins – With teachers now able to do peer observations, school administrators will have more time to attend to other matters.
✅ Online TPAD Submission – After filling lesson observation forms, teachers must submit to school admins for upload to TPAD online system.
TPAD and Promotions
TSC uses TPAD compliance as criterion for promotions. Teachers must show evidence of TPAD compliance for the last three years (2022, 2023, 2024) during promotion interviews.
The Commission has advertised 25,288 promotion slots for primary and secondary school teachers in 2024 and TPAD will be used to evaluate in interviews.
TPAD Rating and Scores in Promotions
| TPAD Score | Marks Awarded |
|---|---|
| 81+ | 10 Marks |
| 61 – 80 | 8 Marks |
| 41 – 60 | 6 Marks |
| 21 – 40 | 4 Marks |
| 1 – 20 | 2 Marks |
Teachers who fail to comply with TPAD appraisals and lesson observations risk disciplinary action from the Commission.
TPAD Calendar of Activities for Schools (2024)
| Activity | Responsible Persons | Time Frame |
|---|---|---|
| Planning meetings before school opening to set TPAD calendar | Heads of Institutions, Senior Management Team, Teachers | By last week of school holiday |
| Submission of professional documents | Heads of Institution, All Teachers | By end of first week of term |
| Lesson observations, identifying & documenting professional gaps | Appraisees and Appraisers | 2nd to 10th week of term |
| Teacher professional development to address gaps | Appraisees, Appraisers, Institutional Administrators | Throughout the term |
| Internal monitoring & evaluation of TPAD implementation | Heads of Institution, Deputy Head, Heads of Department | Continuous throughout the term |
| Monitoring TPAD implementation at zonal, sub-county & county levels | Curriculum Support Officers (CSOs), Sub-County & County Directors | Throughout the term |
| TPAD rating meetings | Teachers (Appraisees), HODs, Deputy Heads, Heads of Institution, CSOs, Sub-County Directors | By the closing date of the term |
| Uploading TPAD data and evidence | Teachers (Appraisees), HODs, Deputy Heads, Heads of Institution, CSOs, Sub-County Directors | Throughout the term |
What This Means for Teachers
- More Responsibility – Teachers must participate in lesson observations and self-evaluation.
- Better Promotion Opportunities – Higher TPAD rating means promotion during interviews.
- Strict Compliance Required – Non-compliance with TPAD will lead to disciplinary action.
With these changes, TSC wants to develop professionals and bring back glory to teaching while improving public confidence in education.