TSC’s Quest for Clarity on Headteacher Qualifications, Non Graduates to be demoted.

In a move that ignites curiosity, the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) has embarked on a fresh journey of data collection, a voyage aimed at deciphering the accurate count of primary headteachers equipped with degrees. Picture an Excel sheet as a canvas where these educators are encouraged to paint a picture of their educational attainment, marking their highest level of education – be it P1, DEGREE, or MASTERS – among other essential details.

The rationale behind this intricate exercise finds its roots in the recommendations of the education taskforce, a compelling narrative that seeks to harmonize nursery, primary, and junior schools under the stewardship of a single Principal. The reform’s heartbeat resonates with the call for these three educational tiers to coalesce into a unified entity, christened the Comprehensive School, guided by a Principal wielding the mantle of a graduate.

This dance of transformation is orchestrated by the Commission’s desire to align with the reform team’s vision. In this new symphony, a Principal will stand at the helm, flanked by deputy principals responsible for nursery, primary, and junior school domains. These deputy principals, luminaries of education, will complement the Principal’s leadership with their expertise.

The stars of this show, the Principal and their deputies, must be graduate teachers armed with the shield of a bachelor’s degree in education. As the narrative unfolds, it becomes apparent that the landscape harbors a mix of primary school headteachers, some adorned with the laurels of degrees, others with the emblems of diplomas, and a few P1 teachers in the midst.

A transitional era exists where primary headteachers with junior secondary schools in their fold have stepped into the shoes of acting principals for a one-year interlude, a role delivered through deployment letters. The interim rule, slated to end on December 30, 2023, sketches the boundary of their reign.

Amidst these sweeping changes, TSC has been quietly drafting blueprints, a design to sculpt a new reality. A year’s span unfurls before them, an expanse within which the reverberations of the education reform’s proposed metamorphosis will ripple through Kenya’s educational tapestry.

The landscape they navigate is vast, populated by over 23,000 public primary schools, many donning the Ministry of Education’s seal of approval to accommodate junior secondary schools. As TSC and the ministry intertwine their efforts, the task ahead is to birth guidelines that will shepherd senior teachers under the Principal’s wing.

A notable transformation finds resonance in the reimagined role of the school Board of Management (BOM). Currently, the interim sub-committee springs forth from the primary school BoM, entrusted with the guardianship of the junior secondary schools.

As the pages turn, the proposal blooms: the composition of the comprehensive and senior secondary schools will anoint them as agents of the Ministry of Education, veering away from the TSC’s domain. The echoes of change beckon a transformation that extends to the BoM, urging a leaner configuration that mirrors the reform team’s counsel.

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here
Captcha verification failed!
CAPTCHA user score failed. Please contact us!