TSC gives information on TPD for teachers

The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) has underscored the value of interdependence among all education stakeholders in order to improve the quality of education in the country.

TSC Chairperson Dr. Jamleck Muturi said education is a lifetime resource that every society in the world must harness for prosperity, hence the need for joint participation from all partners for its sustainability.

Speaking during a stakeholders’ engagement forum at Evangelical Lutheran Church in Kenya (ELCK) Kapenguria Bible College Hall on Wednesday, Muturi urged teachers, parents, political leaders and school sponsors to play their part in ensuring effective and efficient service delivery in education institutions.

He mentioned that TSC on its part was keen on embracing digitization of some of its services to help minimize on time wasted, while seeking services that compromises teachers’ class time.

“We have decentralized some services so as to save our teachers from the burden of travelling to Nairobi which has been making many teachers lose a lot of time meant for them to be in class. We ask our teachers to be accountable to their learners, the community they serve and the government,” reiterated the TSC chair.

Muturi advised teachers with psychosocial challenges to make use of the wellness centres established to improve their welfare, promising that the commission will always give a human face when dealing with disciplinary cases.

He challenged teachers to optimize the potential of each learner for a better society, lauding the political leadership in West Pokot County for prioritizing education in their development undertakings.

At the same time, the commission has encouraged teachers to undertake the Teachers Professional Development (TPD) course, maintaining that it is good for their progress.

Responding to claims that TPD was causing inconvenience among teachers already in the service, TSC Commissioner Timon Oyucho said the training will make the teachers globally competitive, hence teachers should not develop cold feet.

“Teaching like other professions, requires one to undergo continuous upgrading for effective service delivery. A Judge of the High Court will always acquire a practicing certificate that is always renewable,” argued Oyucho.

Sigor MP Peter Lochakapong raised concerns that his office was receiving requests for National Government Constituency Development Funds (NG-CDF) bursaries from teachers wanting to enroll for the TPD courses.

Some stakeholders at the meeting appealed to the commission to look into modalities where the employer should meet the costs of the training for those teachers already in service.