The Ministry of Education has asked all schools to employ ICT teachers who will assist in submitting online returns. Through a circular dated January 13, 2021 Education Principal Secretary, Dr. Belio Kipsang, says the teachers will assist in ensuring that the submitted data meets the minimum integrity threshold.
“As you are aware, most of the services are now digital. Schools are advised to have one ICT Teacher to help in carrying out most of the online services.” Says Dr. Kipsang.
In the Circular that has been copied to all Regional and County Directors of Education, Kipsang says having the ICT teachers will save schools the agony of filing important returns at cyber cafes; where the data may be compromised.
SUPPORT STAFF.
According to the guidelines released by the Basic Education Principal Secretary (Dr Belio Kipsang), last year, day schools with one stream should only have a maximum of 5 workers while the largest school with 15 streams can only higher not more than 37 workers on BOM terms (See tables below). These guidelines were adapted from the Kilemi Mwiria Task-force Report of 2014.
The earlier guidelines barred day schools with less than three streams from hiring ICT technicians. (See table below).
TABLE 1: STAFFING GUIDELINES FOR DAY SCHOOLS
| NO OF STREAMS | BURSAR | ACCOUNTS CLERK | SECRETARY | MESSENGER | LAB TECHNICIAN | ICT TECHNICIAN | GROUNDS-MAN | CATERESS | COOK | KITCHEN HANDLER | NURSE | STORE KEEPER | ARTISANS | DRIVER | LIBRARIAN | SECURITY | TOTALS |
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 5 |
| 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 7 |
| 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 11 |
| 4 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 15 |
| 5 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 16 |
| 6 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 19 |
The school nurse should also double up as a matron while recruited artisans should be able to execute multiple tasks (multi-skilled).
TABLE 2: STAFFING GUIDELINES FOR BOARDING SCHOOLS
| MESSENGER | LAB TECHNICIAN | ICT TECHNICIAN | GROUNDS-MAN | CATERESS | COOK | KITCHEN HANDLER | NURSE | STORE KEEPER | ARTISANS | DRIVER | LIBRARIAN | SECURITY | TOTALS |
| 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 9 |
| 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 12 |
| 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 16 |
| 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 22 |
| 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 28 |
| 1 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 33 |
| 1 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 8 | 37 |
| 1 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 36 |
| 1 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 37 |
| 1 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 37 |
| 1 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 37 |
| 1 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 36 |
| 1 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 37 |
| 1 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 37 |
| 1 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 37 |
Dr Kipsang has also instructed schools to remunerate their staff as per the earlier guidelines (also adapted from the Kilemi Mwiria Task-force Report of 2014) and dispatched to schools. The teaching and non-teaching staffs should be employed on permanent and pensionable terms. the lowest earning worker should pocket Sh9,660 while the highest earner will receive a monthly perk of Sh41,000. But, these salaries are to be pegged on the workers’ qualifications.
TASKS TO BE CARRIED OUT BY THE ICT TEACHERS
Among other responsibilities, the Ministry has directed that the ICT teachers help school heads and principals in carrying out the following functions:
- Assist Heads of Institutions in ensuring that all learners are registered on Nemis.
- Help in uploading of Free Day Secondary Education (FDSE) receipt of funds.
- Help in Knec registration of candidates.
- Advise and help teachers in the online TPAD appraisal.
- Provide any online data that may be required by the Ministry.
- Assist students in Kuccps placement applications.
