Junior secondary school (JSS) teachers have been cautioned by the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) not to skip the Competency Based Curriculum (CBC) training, which begins on Monday, December 2.
Teachers who fail to attend the three-day retooling without authorization risk disciplinary action from TSC County, Sub County, and Curriculum Support Officers (CSO).
Teachers who are dealing with issues like illness, maternity, etc., have been instructed by TSC officials to ask the appropriate authorities for authorization.
The JSS teachers would receive retraining on competency-based curriculum (CBC) and competency-based assessment (CBA) from TSC and the Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC).
The Commission targets at least 56,000 teachers currently serving in JSS section including the intern teachers.
The four day training targets teachers of Languages, Sciences, Mathematics, Humanities and those handling Technical subjects.
The teachers will be paid some allowance for the three day attendance. Teachers in Asal and hard to stuff areas will get upto sh 12,000 while those from other regions will get sh 3,000 for the three days.
When TSC CEO Dr. Nancy Macharia appeared in Parliament over questions on JSS transition she outlined the Commission preparedness for the transition to Grade 9, noting that it has recruited 48,550 teachers over the past two financial years.
Of these, 39,550 are interns, while 9,000 were employed on permanent terms. Also a total of 8,378 primary school teachers were deployed to JSS in the last two years, raising the total number of JSS teachers to 56,928.
Currently TSC is recruiting another 20,000 teachers on internship terms for junior secondary schools.
Below is a memo that was released by the Commission guiding the December retooling exercise.
TEACHERS SERVICE COMMISSION
INTERNAL MEMO
TO: TSC REGIONAL DIRECTORS
TSC COUNTY DIRECTORS
REF: TSC/DTPM/CDS/40/VOLII/124
RE: INSTRUCTIONS TO TSC REGIONAL AND TSC COUNTY DIRECTORS ON RETOOLING OF TEACHERS HANDLING GRADE 7 AND 8 IN COMPETENCY BASED CURRICULUM AND ASSESSMENT
The Teachers Service Commission has planned the retooling of teachers handling grade 7 and 8 (junior school) in Competency Based Curriculum (CBC) and Competency Based Assessment (CBA) with effect from 20th November to 5th December, 2024.
The model of training will be smart cascade and it will involve the training of Master Trainers who will then train the Trainers of Trainers and thereafter offer professional support during the teachers face to face training in the country.
The dates for the face to face smart cascade model of training are as follows;
DATE VENUE ACTIVITY MODE PARTICIPANTS
20th to 22nd November, 2024 KISE Training of Master Trainers both regular and SNE Face to face Master Trainers (MTs) drawn from TSC, KICD, KNEC, KEMI, CEMASTEA, MOE, KISE and TTCs
27th to 29th November, 2024 County select venues Training of Trainers of Trainers (ToTs) regular and SNE Face to face Trainers of Trainers (ToTs) drawn from CSOs, Teacher Educators from TTCs and QAS, TSC SCDs and JS teachers
30th November, 2024 County
Sub County Sub County and Zonal training coordination Face to face Master Trainers, ToTs and County Directors
2nd to 5th December, 2024 County select venues Retooling of teachers clustered per subject Face to face Teachers of Languages, Sciences, Mathematics, Humanities and Technical subjects
The Mode of training
The model of retooling will be smart cascade done face to face using a multi-agency approach.
The teacher capacity development will be conducted as follows;
i. The Master Trainers will train the Trainers of Trainers (ToTs) who are Curriculum Support Officers, Teacher Educators (Tutors), TSC sub county directors and MOE Quality Assurance Officers and champion teachers for 3 days
ii. The ToTs will train teachers face to face for 4 days
iii. The Master Trainers will offer professional support during teacher training
iv. The exercise will be residential for ASAL and SNE, but Non residential for non ASAL
V. The venues will be Teacher Training Colleges and or select venues in the county
Target Participants
The participants for retooling are JSS teachers handling grade 7 and 8 both regular and SNE for junior school and pre-vocational.
The teachers will be clustered as per the learning areas; English, Kiswahili/Kenya Sign Language (KSL), Mathematics, Religious Education, Social Studies (including Life Skills Education), Integrated Science (has Health Education), Pre-Technical Studies, Agriculture and Nutrition, Creative Arts and Sports.
The purpose of this MEMO is to kindly request you to:
i. Nominate and Invite the TSC sub county Directors, Curriculum Support Officers, Tutors, teacher champions, JS teachers and MOE Quality Assurance Officers for TOT and teacher training for both regular and SNE (as per data provided) ii. Invite JS teachers per school (regular) for retooling (as per data provided).
iii. Invite 3 teachers per SNE School. One teacher from Special Units and One teacher from the integrated school. (as per data provided)
iv. Coordinate the sub county and zonal training
v. Invite 3 teachers from private schools and inform them to cater for expenses on transport and meals and accommodation.
vi. Identify, Procure and prepare appropriate training venues for regular teacher training
vii. Identify, procure and prepare appropriate SNE training venues
viii. The venues identified must be convenient and with appropriate infrastructure.
ix. Prepare teacher training report and submit to the Director TPM
x. Submit summary training data as per template provided
DR. MUGWUKU NTH MBURI, F. AFTRA
DIRECTOR (TEACHER PROFESSIONAL MANAGEMENT)