The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) is facing a backlash from some applicants for the advertised vacancies over what they believe are guidelines that may mean being locked out of the upcoming interviews.
The applicants have even threatened to take the Commission to court for the terms they have termed as discriminatory.
In the TSC score sheet that was released to be used in the recruitment of teachers in this month of July 2021, the Commission instructed personnel involved in recruiting teachers to award 30 marks to applicants who shall provide “evidence of internship service.”
This means that intern teachers are guaranteed the 30 marks up from the 10 marks awarded to interns last year which gave them an advantage ahead of other applicants who had not been on internship.
Despite this, some applicants believe that it was not their fault that they are not working on internship terms.
“TSC allowed only those aged below thirty-five years to apply. How does this factor me in?” wondered Daniel, a teacher working in Homa Bay County on Board of Management terms.
TSC also faced complaints after it awarded teachers who graduated with Second Class Upper Division after they awarded the same amount of marks as those who attained Lower Division.
Ten thousand of the teachers who graduated in the year 2015 or earlier also have an advantage as they shall score higher marks during the upcoming teacher interviews.
If a teacher graduated in 2015 or earlier they will be awarded 25 marks with those who graduated after 2015 getting 20 marks.
For graduates who scored first-class honors, as well as those with holders of Masters degrees, will be awarded more marks as stipulated in the latest TSC score sheet.
According to the TSC score sheet, teacher graduates with First Class Honours or Masters holders shall be awarded 40 marks while those with a pass will get a maximum of 30 points.
For diploma holders with a distinction, they shall score a maximum of 40 marks with those with credit getting a maximum of 35 marks. Those who scored a pass can expect to get a maximum of 30 points.
Eligible applicants are those who attained a mean grade of C (Plain) and similar grades in the two teaching subjects at the KCSE and above and have taken a diploma in education are eligible to apply.
Those with a Bachelor of Education with a mean grade of C (plain) and a similar grade in two teaching subjects at KCSE and who studied a bridging/pre-university certificate course before the 31st of December 2015 are also allowed to apply.
A requirement of a minimum of eight –course units in each teaching subject is also crucial to remember.
“The teacher must have studied special methods in their teaching subjects of choice and having undergone teaching practice for a minimum of three months,” revealed Dr. Nancy Macharia the TSC CEO.
Teachers who had been employed under contractual terms and whose services had been terminated because of inadequate units in the teaching subjects and have since acquired certificates of enhancement having the required units can apply.
“Applicants presenting enhancement certificates or official transcripts in the teaching subjects from the recognized institutions qualify for employment if they scored at least C+ in the enhanced subjects at KCSE,” reads the TSC guidelines for recruitment.
However, it is important to note that there has to exist proof that the teacher indeed undertook the units on teaching methods of the subject during the undergraduate course.
TSC has also revealed that applicants who studied subjects the Commission does not recognize do not qualify, irrespective of whether they have undertaken a PGDE or enhancement.
Presentation skills as well as the teacher’s ability to communicate, as well as interest in co-curricular activities are also greatly advised during the interview as they could earn a candidate crucial points.