The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) is considering reducing the requirements for deploying primary school teachers to junior secondary schools (JSS).
Despite keeping the application portal open for 66 days, the Commission is far from reaching its recruitment target. Although the portal remains accessible, applications have not been coming in at a significant rate.
TSC initially aimed to deploy 6,000 P1 teachers to JSS by April; however, many PTE teachers find the current requirements unattainable. Initially, TSC had indicated that primary school teachers with any education-related diploma or degree certificate would be considered for deployment. However, this decision was later reversed following further advisement.
TSC compiled lists from its database containing P1 teachers with various diploma and degree certificates for possible deployment to Grade 9.
Additional teacher details were gathered from primary school heads, who were asked to provide information such as KCSE mean grade, specialization (e.g., BED Arts, BED Science, BED ECDE, BED SNE, Dip in Education, etc.), and two teaching subjects with their respective mean grades for those with a secondary option.
Despite this effort, the plan was abandoned as most primary school teachers hold a KCSE mean grade of C (plain). Some, however, have pursued further education and obtained diplomas or degrees.
The online application process, activated on January 13 and initially set to close on January 24, was extended due to low application numbers. Next month, TSC will commence document verification and the posting of qualified teachers to JSS.
The Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) has urged TSC to relax its strict academic requirements for deploying P1 teachers to JSS, emphasizing the need to prioritize the learners’ education.
Instead of rigid qualifications, KNUT suggested retooling PTE teachers to equip them with the necessary skills to teach Grade 7, 8, and 9 students.
Currently, TSC requires practicing P1 teachers to hold a degree in a secondary option, with a KCSE mean grade of at least C+ and a C+ in two teaching subjects.
However, TSC has faced criticism for disregarding P1 teachers, who are well-suited to instruct subjects like Music, Art and Craft, and Physical Education, which JSS teachers struggle with.
Many P1 teachers possess quality KCSE grades and higher qualifications, but their credentials do not align with TSC’s deployment criteria.
TSC CEO Dr. Nancy Macharia disclosed that a total of 72,422 teachers are required to address the staffing shortage in JSS. To effectively handle Grade 7, 8, and 9, TSC estimates that 149,350 teachers are needed. Currently, 76,928 teachers are employed in junior secondary, covering only 51.5% of the demand.
Among the employed JSS teachers are 39,550 initially recruited as interns who have since been confirmed, 8,378 P1 teachers deployed in 2023 and 2024, and 9,000 teachers hired on permanent and pensionable terms.
To address the staffing gap, the government allocated Ksh. 4.8 billion, enabling TSC to recruit 20,000 JSS teachers on internship terms. Additionally, TSC plans to employ 18,000 more JSS intern teachers in December.
Since April 2019, TSC has retooled 229,292 teachers in the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC) and Competency-Based Assessment (CBA). Between May 2023 and November 2024 alone, 60,642 JSS teachers underwent retooling.
Facing pressure to resolve the growing teacher crisis in JSS, TSC has continued deploying P1 teachers as a form of promotion since 2019. Due to numerous complaints about stagnation, teachers who upgraded their academic qualifications have been considered for deployment.
Between 2019 and 2021, 1,000 P1 teachers were deployed annually to secondary schools, while from 2022 to 2024, around 8,378 teachers were deployed to support the first cohorts of CBC in JSS.
For the ongoing deployment process, the TSC Sub-County Director will conduct document verification for shortlisted applicants and issue deployment letters. Each teacher will receive a letter, while a duplicate will be submitted along with other documents to the headquarters.
Deployment will prioritize proximity to the current station, subject combinations, gender, and Special Needs Education (SNE) qualifications, with SNE-certified teachers being assigned to Special JSS institutions.
During the verification exercise, candidates must present:
Original and copy of degree/diploma certificate
Original and copies of academic transcripts
Original and copy of SNE qualification (if applicable)
Original and copy of KCSE certificate (or equivalent)
Copy of current payslip
A declaration from the Head of Institution confirming the teacher is currently serving and is not under interdiction or disciplinary action
To qualify for deployment to JSS, a primary school teacher must:
Be actively registered with the Teachers Service Commission.
Be employed as a primary school teacher under TSC.
Have no ongoing interdiction or disciplinary case.
Hold a minimum of a Diploma in Education, with at least a C+ at KCSE (or its equivalent), including a C+ in two teaching subjects currently in the curriculum (either under 8-4-4 or CBC) or two principal passes and one subsidiary pass at A-Level.
Have completed at least eight units in each of the two teaching subjects.
Candidates with a KCSE mean grade of C (plain) but who have completed both a Diploma in Education and a Bachelor’s Degree in Education are also eligible.
Hold a Bachelor of Education degree. However, those with a Bachelor of Education (Primary Option) do not qualify.
