TSC proposes scrapping of Bachelor of Education degree from universities

Two weeks after the Teachers Service Commision (TSC) announced new measures to register teachers through a Biometric system, the Teachers’ employer is at it again

This time TSC intends to scrap the Bachelor of Education degree requirement for teachers

The four-year course has been the basis of entry into the education sector for nearly four decades, employing thousands of teachers in various institutions across the country.

The TSC is making public its intention to do away with the bachelor of education course by September this year

In sweeping reforms to ensure seamless rollout of the Competence-based curriculum (CBC), TSC wants all universities to cease offering the course within months, in its place the teachers employer proposes that students who wish to pursue a career in teaching will take regular ARTS or SCIENCE degrees followed by a one-year post graduate diploma in education to qualify for registration as teachers

The proposal comes with a series of recommendations

Certificates will be null, as the minimum qualification for entry into teaching in the country at all levels will be a Diploma in Education. Admission into ALL diplomas and Degrees in Teacher education courses shall be demand driven.

In addition, TSC recommends a curriculum for teachers educators (trainers) to be developed by the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (KICD) and TSC in collaboration with Universities and the Commission for University Education that will form the basis for employment of Teacher Educators

Under the CBC programme teachers will be expected to go digital, Be smart and use smartphones, innovate, use project based learning for learners, learn new technologies and embrace learner-centered classrooms and personalized instructions

TSC has embarked on an ambitious and radical reform process in the Education sector that is already stirring opposition from unions including the Universities Academic staff union (UASU)