A huge number of unemployed P1 teachers are set to join the twenty-four Teacher Training Colleges (TTC) for a one-year Diploma Course that will enable them to be on the same level with any looming changes in the Competency-Based Curriculum.
Any interested parties could be allowed to apply for upgrade changes between June and July this year. This is according to sources close to the Ministry of Education.
Shortlisted applicants will then be placed in the various government Teachers Training Colleges to undertake the upgrade program.
The training will take nine months with a guaranteed pass for those willing to upgrade as from this September 2021. This is because it will be just an induction and not a strict regular examination.
The Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (KICD) is making preparations for a curriculum design for the upgrade program which equips teachers with necessary Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC) skills since they have already attained the basic teaching pedagogies.
The decision was made after it was known that the Teachers Service Commission will not employ any teacher in the future without having a diploma.
However, the Commission revealed that changes will be gradual as their recommendations are still being debated.
“Even if changes may come, they will be gradual, for now, the issue is being debated. There is no final word yet,” said TSC via their Facebook platform.
According to Program-Based Budget 2021, TSC will to employ 15,000 secondary school teachers starting in this financial year.
The Commission will also recruit more than 5,000 teachers annually in the next three years to curb a looming crisis in high schools.
However, TSC has no plans to recruit primary school teachers and this has cast doubt on the fate of many unemployed PTE certificate holders.
The phasing out of the 8-4-4 system is the main reason TSC will not employ new Primary school teachers as the inception of the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC) is expected to reduce the workload on teachers because learners will be joining secondary schools after Grade Six.
To curb the gaps that could result as a result of learners joining secondary schools early, TSC shall employ 5,500 interns on a one-year contract. On the other hand, only 2,000 interns will be under contract in primary schools every year.
How do I apply for the p1 upgrade program