Following low turnout, TSC extends the deployment of P1 teachers to JSS.
The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) has decided to extend the application period for the deployment of primary school (P1) teachers to junior secondary schools (JSS) following a lower-than-expected number of applicants. Initially, the commission had set the deadline for the application process as January 24, after opening the portal on January 13. However, with the insufficient number of applications received, the deadline has now been extended to an undisclosed date to allow more eligible teachers to apply.
The extension comes as the commission seeks to address the acute shortage of teachers in JSS for Grades 7, 8, and 9. In response to the pressing need for more teachers, TSC announced that P1 teachers would begin their deployment in February 2025 to help bridge the gap. Despite this initiative, the commission has faced challenges in attracting enough applicants to fill the available positions, prompting the deadline extension.
Concerns Over Deployment Requirements
Leaders from the Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) have raised concerns over the strict academic qualifications set by TSC for P1 teachers seeking deployment to JSS. They argue that the commission should focus on retooling teachers who hold a Primary Teacher Education (PTE) qualification instead of enforcing rigid requirements. According to KNUT, P1 teachers with sufficient training and experience should be allowed to transition into JSS without being subjected to stringent academic criteria.
Currently, TSC mandates that P1 teachers seeking deployment to JSS must hold a degree in secondary education, have a minimum grade of C+ in the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE), and attain a C+ in at least two teaching subjects. The commission has set a target of deploying 6,000 P1 teachers to JSS, but the shortage of applications has led to the extension of the application process.
Addressing the Teacher Shortage Crisis
TSC CEO, Dr. Nancy Macharia, highlighted the urgent need to resolve the teacher shortage in JSS, revealing that an additional 72,422 teachers are required to meet the demand. She further disclosed that a total of 149,350 teachers are necessary for the successful implementation of Grades 7, 8, and 9. As of now, JSS has a workforce of 76,928 teachers, representing only 51.5% of the required teaching staff.
The current teacher workforce includes 39,550 junior secondary teachers who were initially recruited on internship terms before securing permanent contracts, alongside 8,378 P1 teachers who were deployed between 2023 and 2024. Additionally, 9,000 JSS teachers have been employed on permanent and pensionable terms.
To address the crisis, the government allocated Ksh 4.8 billion, which TSC utilized to recruit 20,000 JSS teachers on internship terms. Since the introduction of the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC), TSC has retooled 229,292 teachers in CBC and Competency-Based Assessment (CBA) since April 2019. Between May 2023 and November 2024, a total of 60,642 JSS teachers underwent retooling to enhance their instructional capabilities.
Deployment Process and Verification Requirements
TSC has scheduled the verification of teachers’ documents and their subsequent posting to JSS institutions starting in February. The verification process will be conducted by TSC Sub-County Directors, who will also issue deployment letters to successful candidates. Each teacher will receive one letter, with another copy sent to TSC headquarters for official filing.
During the deployment process, several factors will be considered, including a teacher’s current station, subject combinations, gender, and qualifications in Special Needs Education (SNE). Teachers who specialize in SNE will be deployed to special JSS institutions.
Required Documents for Verification
To facilitate verification, candidates must present the following:
- Original and a copy of their degree/diploma certificate
- Original and copies of academic transcripts
- Original and copy of SNE qualification (if applicable)
- Original and copy of the KCSE certificate (or equivalent)
- A copy of the latest payslip
- A declaration from the Head of Institution confirming that the teacher is currently serving in the school and is not facing any disciplinary action
Eligibility Criteria for Deployment
To qualify for deployment to JSS, P1 teachers must:
- Be actively registered with TSC
- Be employed as a primary school teacher by TSC
- Have no history of interdiction or disciplinary action
- Hold at least a Diploma in Education, with a minimum C+ grade in KCSE (or equivalent) and a C+ in two teaching subjects under the 8-4-4 or CBC curriculum, or attain two principal passes and one subsidiary pass at the A-Level
- Have completed at least eight units in each of the two teaching subjects
- Teachers who obtained a C (plain) in KCSE but later pursued a Diploma in Education alongside a Bachelor’s Degree in Education qualify for deployment
- Holders of a Bachelor of Education (Primary Option) do not qualify for JSS deployment
Moving Forward
With the extension of the application period, TSC aims to attract more eligible teachers to fill the vacancies in JSS. The commission remains committed to ensuring that junior secondary learners receive quality education by addressing the ongoing teacher shortage. As the deployment process unfolds, it is expected that more teachers will come forward to take up the available positions, ensuring that the demands of JSS are adequately met.
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