TSC retains academic qualifications for students seeking to pursue education courses

TSC Chief Executive Officer Dr. Nancy Njeri Macharia. She has been in the limeloght over the recent teachers' promotions.

The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) has denied reports that it had revised the academic qualifications for students seeking to pursue a bachelor’s degree and diploma courses in education across the country.

Academic and Professional Requirements for Registration of Teachers

In a statement released on Monday, January 13, 2025, the Commission flagged the post and termed it as fake news.

The now-false circulating post on social media claimed that individuals needed to have achieved a minimum of B- (minus) in both Mathematics and English and a minimum of C+ (plus) in their preferred teaching subjects to qualify for a degree in education.

It further claimed that students wanting to pursue a Diploma in Education (Secondary Teacher Option) would require a minimum of D+ (plus) in Mathematics, a minimum of C (plain) in English, and an overall mean grade of C+ (plus) in their Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) exams.

TSC, in its statement, called on Kenyans to head to their official website to get information on qualifications for education courses.

The fake circular that claims TSC has revised the minimum requirements for teachers.

“Beware of fake news! The requirements for persons wishing to join the teaching service are outlined on our website, http://tsc.go.ke. Stay informed,” TSC stated.

This comes barely a week after Education CS Julius Ogamba released the results for the 2024 Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) exams.

Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Migos Ogamba. Photo/ file

Speaking from Mtihani House on Thursday, January 9, 2024, CS Ogamba announced that 962,512 candidates sat for the national examination stating that all the students who sat for the exams have been cleared to join various institutions of higher learning to pursue careers of their choice.

Education courses qualifications
According to the Ministry of Education, students seeking to pursue a Diploma in Education (Secondary Teacher Option) should have attained a mean grade of C+ (Plus) in KCSE, a minimum grade of C (plain) in English, a minimum of D+ (plus) in Mathematics (for art-based courses only), a minimum grade of C (plain) in Mathematics (for science-based courses only) and a minimum of C+ (plus) in the two teaching subjects.

On the other hand, individuals with special needs (visual and hearing impairment) seeking to pursue the diploma course require a mean grade of C (plain) in KCSE, a minimum grade of C- (minus) in English, a minimum grade of D (plain) in Mathematics (for art-based courses only), a minimum grade of C- (minus) in Mathematics (for science-based courses only), and a minimum grade of C (plain) in the two teaching subjects.

Applicants seeking to pursue a Bachelor’s Degree in Education must have a minimum mean grade of C+ (plus) and above or its equivalent in KCSE and C+ (plus) in two subjects of specialization.