School Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Champions have been urged to support the Teachers Performance Appraisal and Development (TPAD) exercise in their schools.
The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) released a report detailing the number of teachers who did not manage to complete the appraisal process and submit their scores before the lapse of the provided timelines.
Through the appraisal and development system, it has been realized that the tool has helped empower teachers and enabled them to regain some of the lost glory and public confidence and support.
According to data provided by the TSC Director of Quality and Standards Dr. Mugwuku Nthamuri, more than 93% of TSC-employed teachers completed the online appraisal forms by the end of the third term in April. This was a significant increase when compared to Term 2 when 87% were completed and 86% in the first term.
By the end of the third term, 341,760 teachers had submitted the TPAD online forms representing an increase of 4,917 teachers who carried out the TPAD exercise in the last term.
The Commission introduced the Teacher Performance Appraisal and Development (TPAD) tool back in 2016 and later renamed it TPAD2 in 2019 following some modifications.
However, the appraisal system met resistance from the Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) which was led at that time by former KNUT secretary-general Wilson Sossion.
The Kenya Union of Post Primary Teachers (KUPPET) also rejected the change in policy saying that consultations had not been carried out with the union. They also said that the appraisal process was laborious and that it was a waste of time.
KUPPET accused TSC of disrupting learning and teaching by forcing teachers to spend hours in cyber cafes to download and file the appraisal forms.
On their part, teachers also complained that the paperwork took a long time and required internet connectivity, which they argued was not available in some places.
However, TSC argued that the tool would help teachers back on track, help them to regain their lost glory, and reduce absenteeism.
At the moment, there have been suggestions that the submitted TPAD appraisals are not always done by teachers but by cyber attendants or other people who help in filling the required details and submitting them.
The appraisals have also been called a ‘sham’ by a section of teachers who argue that the ratings are just entered haphazardly and do not reflect the reality on the ground.
According to Dr. Nthamburi’s report to TSC Regional directors, 22,607 teachers represented 6.61% did not complete the process on time and their appraisals remained pending at various stages.
Out of these numbers, 4,703 teachers did not complete self-appraisals, 5,829 submitted for appraisal but were not appraised by their supervisors and 6,059 forms had missing signatures.
He called on the directors to send a report showing reasons for non-compliance in their respective counties.
What are TSC’s clarifications regarding TPAD?
Performance Contract (PC)
Performance Contract for heads of primary and secondary institutions is available on the TSC website.
The Heads of Institutions are required to follow the PC calendar of activities which also provides that the PC should be downloaded and signed as required.
Once this has been done, the heads of institutions are required to develop the Operational work plan which can be done on the TPAD online system.
Teacher Performance Appraisal and Development (TPAD)
Due to the complexities caused by the design of the TPAD online system, it has been decided that all data, for both term 2 and term 3 be done on Term 2 2021.
This means that teachers in grade 4, class 8, and form 4 can input the data on learners’ progress on the term 2 2021 portal and not on term 3 2021 as had earlier been communicated in the memo.
The Heads of institutions are required to customize the TPAD calendar provided in the TPAD online system and share these requirements with the teachers when the schools were open.
Lesson Observation
The TPAD online system provides for lesson observation which should be done at least once a term.
Missing Schools
A list of schools missing from the TPAD system in respective Counties should be submitted to the Commission.
Mapping of schools
All teachers should be mapped in their respective schools, zones, sub-counties, and counties respectively.
These rights have been assigned to the County Director and the County ICT officers.
A list of teachers yet to appear on TPAD online system should be submitted to the Commission with their TSC numbers and workstations.
Teachers should also create their TPAD accounts and this will remedy this situation.
Schools with no administrators
The County Director should assign rights to teachers to act as deputies and heads of institutions so as to ensure that the appraisal process is completed at the school level.