Ministry of Education to Assume TSC responsibilities.
The Ministry of Education is making significant strides in the reorganization of sub-county directors of education toward the assumption of a faction of teachers Service Commission (TSC) responsibilities.
It is essential to note that from next year, a significant portion of TSC functions will be carried out by the Ministry of Education following the implementation of recommendations put in place in a report by the Presidential Working Party on Education Reforms.
According to the report by the presidential Working Party on Education Reforms, the Teachers Service Commission will transfer significant power to the Ministry of Education in the proposed reforms.
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Notable changes in the report
Notable changes in the report include:
- Education Regulation: The recommendations in the report propose the creation of a new body responsible for regulating standards of practice, the Kenya Teaching Standards. This new body will create a distinction between regulation and employment.
- Quality assurance: The task force focuses on eliminating the duplication of responsibilities that currently exists between TSC and the Ministry of Education. It recommends that the Ministry of Education solely handle the quality assurance area.
- Accountability of headteachers: While the responsibility of employing and deploying headteachers still rests with the TSC, school headteachers and principals will be accountable to the Ministry of Education.
- Teacher training and the Competence-Based Curriculum (CBC): In equipping teachers with the necessary information on CBC, unlike before, the Ministry of Education will assume these responsibilities.
- Transfer of teachers: The task force recommends joint approval between the commission and the Ministry of Education.
- Disciplinary action: the recommendations proposes the transfer of disciplinary action powers to an Education Appeals Tribunal.
- Promotion of teachers: TSC will undertake this responsibility in consultation with the Ministry of Education.
- Management of information: The task force proposes deleting section 42(5) of the Teachers Service Commission Act and subsequent registration under the Data Protection Act.
- Affairs of the commission: A change in the quorum for commission meetings from 1/2 to 2/3 of committee members.
- Health insurance: The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) and the Ministry of Education will jointly review health insurance for teachers.
Ministry of Education to Assume TSC responsibilities.