TSC’s Transition to DPTE for Primary Teaching
TSC’s Transition to DPTE for Primary Teaching. In a pivotal move, the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) has declared a significant shift for primary school educators. Given the full implementation of the Competency Based Curriculum (CBC) from Grade 1 to 6, conventional Primary Teacher Education (PTE) certificates will no longer suffice for teaching licenses.
Commencing next year, a solitary PTE certificate will fall short of securing a teaching license for primary schools. Specifically, TSC is seeking P1 teachers with Competency Based Teacher Education (CBTE), placing considerable emphasis on the upgraded Diploma in Primary Teacher Education (DPTE).
Underlining this notable change, the Commission stresses that a Diploma will now be the minimum entry requirement, thereby marking the conclusion of job group B5 for primary school educators. Consequently, successful candidates will find placement in job group C1.
At present, TSC actively engages 46,000 teachers on internships, with definitive plans to confirm their permanent status by 2025. Notably, recent hirings brought in 20,000 intern teachers in both February and August. Furthermore, in January 2022, 1,995 intern teachers were specifically assigned to schools, and contracts were subsequently renewed for 4,005 teachers whose one-year term concluded in December 2021.
Recognizing P1 teachers with ten marks for transitioning to the Competency Based Curriculum, TSC actively acknowledges the proactive approach. In direct response to a taskforce recommendation, a multitude of primary and nursery school teachers have actively upgraded their qualifications to the CBC Diploma.
The initial cohorts of trainee teachers have indeed successfully completed their studies, culminating in the acquisition of a Diploma certificate from the Kenya National Examination Council (KNEC). This transformative shift aligns seamlessly with TSC’s unwavering dedication to adapting to the demands of the new curriculum.