The Teachers Service Commission, TSC, has rolled out the Teacher Professional Development Programme (TPD) that will help raise teaching standards and ensure improved learner performance and achievement.
The Commission introduced the programme for implementation after a three-day sensitisation workshop for stakeholders, including Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT), Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET), Kenya Union of Special Needs Education Teachers (KUSNET), Kenya Secondary School Heads Association (KESSHA), and Kenya Primary School Head Teachers Association (KEPSHA).
TSC CEO Dr Nancy Macharia noted the TPD was yet another lifelong learning initiative that will ensure teachers are abreast with emerging trends in the education sector.
“Since the introduction of TPD, our teachers have excelled in their duties as clearly attested to by the sterling performance they have posted both at national and international stages,” she said.
In under three years, Dr Macharia said, Kenya had produced the best teacher in the world and has also won the coveted continental African Union award in two successive years.
“This excellent show by our teachers is proof that our standards of practice are unrivalled,” she said during the launc event at on September 22nd.
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The Commission accredited Kenya Education Management Institute (KEMI) and three universities (Kenyatta, Riara and Mount Kenya) after a competitive process to offer professional courses to teachers.
“This excellent show by our teachers is proof that our standards of practice are
unrivaled..” Dr Macharia added.
She said instructors will retool teachers on crucial areas such as research and building collaborative engagements among themselves, and ensure that the training is linked to classroom practices.
Dr Macharia added that the Commission will form an all-inclusive committee to monitor the process, carry out public awareness activities and ensure all gaps identified by teachers are plugged, which are crucial to the success of the Competency Based Curriculum (CBC).
Teachers will have freedom to register with any of the four facilities. They will further be required to renew their teaching certificates every five years once they have successfully completed each module.
The training schedule is grounded on seven Key Professional Teaching Standards that will equip teachers with skills in financial literacy, instructional leadership, inclusive education and assessment, among others.
TPD GETS SUPPORT
Lessons will be both online and in-person.
“I beseech teachers to embrace the TPD programme as it is certainly going to be a game-changer. We will leave all our doors open to receive regular feedback from all stakeholders on the progress of this important programme,” she said.
KEMI Director Maurice Odondo said the lessons will inculcate diverse competencies in teachers, boosting their personal growth and that of their learners. He said TPAD will refine the sector by broadening teachers’ perspectives.
Teachers unions expressed their satisfaction with the initiative and indicated that they will shore up support for it.
KEPSHA Chairperson Johnson Nzioka said the programme is rich with potential that will professionalise the service.
“We felt that this is an idea that was long overdue,” he said. “
“Now we are proud as teachers that when we go out there we feel we are recognized,” Mr Nzioka said adding that “I want to assure you that our members are ready”.
KNUT Secretary General Collins Oyuu said the union will back any activity that will alleviate quality teaching.
Mr Akello Misori, KUPPET Secretary General, said the union will heighten stakeholders’ understanding and ensure the cost of the lessons was pocket-friendly.
Kenyatta University VC Paul Wainaina said universities will fully support the TPD programme.
“We are ready to work to ensure that this the programme’s implementation will be smooth,” he said.
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