In order for you to fulfill your dream of being a P1 teacher, there are qualifications you will have to meet in order to qualify to be a P1 teacher. Worry no more, as we bring you all the details you need to know.
This information can also be useful for fresh and hopeful form 4 graduates who are considering taking a primary teachers teaching course in one of Kenya’s teachers training colleges
Admission Requirements for Certificate in Primary teacher education
The following are the admission requirements you have to meet in order to qualify for admission to study a Primary Teacher Education (P1) course.
- A KCSE grade D+ for 2016 and 2017 and KCSE grade of C (plain) for other years (this may depend on the institution).
Admission Requirements for Diploma in education (primary) (Maseno University)
- A KCSE grade of D+ and a P1 certificate with a teaching experience of at least 2 years, or
- A holder of mean grade C (PLAIN) and a P1 certificate.
TSC Requirements for Primary Teachers
For TSC or their recruitment team to consider employing you as a primary school teacher in Kenya, you have to meet the following requirements.
- You must be a Kenyan citizen.
- Hold a PTE Certificate (P1 certificate) from KNEC or
- A Bachelor’s of Education Degree in Primary education from a university recognized by the government of Kenya with two teaching subjects.
Besides, TSC needs you to be not more than 45 years old when you are applying for employment as a primary school teacher in Kenya.
More requirements
The above requirements are not the only ones needed for TSC to consider you for employment as a teacher. You must be registered with the Teachers Service Commission and have a TSC number according to how it is stipulated in the TSC Act Cap 212, Section 23(1) at the time of application.
If you do not have the physical TSC registration certificate, for instance if you are yet to receive it, ensure you attach a printout of your TSC number application as it appears online showing the status of verification.
This will be taken to serve as evidence that you meet the basic requirements for registration as a primary teacher in Kenya.
Primary teacher Job Groups
The Government of Kenya abolished the P1 certificate and replaced it with a Diploma Training Program for primary school teachers. New primary school teachers are now being employed under job grade B5 and not under the older job group G as it used to be the case for fresh P1 teachers.
Other grades are J, K, L, M, and N, in that order but they have since been renamed as C1, C2, C3, C4 and C5 respectively.
The sub-county selection panel comprises of:
- All zonal Curriculum Support Officer – Secretary
- TSC Sub-County Human Resource Officer – Secretary
- Sub-County Director – Chairperson
TSC Frequently Asked Questions
- When do TSC employ new teachers?
TSC employs teachers every year as replacements or additions as some teachers die and others retire. However, the exact dates are not necessarily fixed. Besides, across the year TSC tends to fill positions left vacant by teachers who have left the service via natural attrition.
- Is it possible to apply online?
The TSC recruitment portal is always on and you can upload your documents there and then wait if the advertisement has a position that you qualify for.
A hard copy of your application is not needed if you have applied online.
- What is the age limit for TSC employment?
The age limit for employment by TSC as a teacher in Kenya is 45 years. However, TSC does hire those higher than 45 years old on contractual terms and they can only serve up to a maximum of 65 years of age.
- How many teachers has TSC employed in Kenya?
The number of TSC teacher in the country are more than 105,000 teachers for secondary schools and 220,000 primary school teachers
- Are special needs teachers employed by TSC?
Yes. Keep checking on TSC advertisements to be aware when there are openings for special needs teachers.
All you need to qualify for employment is to undergo training as a special needs education i.e. for hearing and visually impaired in any accredited institutions in the country. Other requirements as mentioned above in this article do apply such as the 45 years age limit.
- How do I contact TSC?
Nowadays you can contact TSC via multiple platforms. You can find the, on Twitter and on Facebook in case you need any updates but for purposes of any clarifications on the requirements for primary teachers, contact the director of staffing at TSC using the following hotlines:
Telephone 1: 0202892193
Telephone 1: 0202892131
You may also contact the director of staffing via email: dirtm@tsc.go.ke
Use the URL (uniform resource locator) www.tsc.go.ke tocheck on any available positions of employment.
SEE ALSO: