TSC, Ministry of Education agree to withdraw case on teacher training grades

Teachers Service Commission (TSC) and Ministry of Education have agreed to withdraw the legal notice directing the lowering of grades for persons entering Teachers Training College.

According to the consent filed in court on Monday, the Legal Notice NO.118 of 2018 that was to give the National Qualifications Authority (KNQA) powers to review the standards of education and training of persons entering the teaching service has also been revoked.

This means that the entry grades for persons entering Teacher Training Colleges shall remain C+ for Diploma and D+ for certificate as prescribed in the Legal Notice No.50 of 2016.

When the mater came up in court on Monday, TSC, through its lawyer Oyocho Timon, told Justice Chacha Mwita that they had reached an agreement.

However, the judge directed that the matter be mentioned on March 3, 2019 to have the consent adopted.

“There’s no record showing that the Attorney General act for the respondents herein, this matter will be adjourned to March 3 — 4, 2019 as earlier scheduled,” said judge Mwita.

TSC had rejected the proposal saying that lowering the grades will affect the quality of teachers.

TSC further hit out at the authority (KNQA) saying it has no mandate to decide the entry grades for those joining teaching, warning that it will not recognize such teachers.

“The commission takes a serious view of the attempt by the authority to arrogate itself the powers to review the standards of education and training of persons entering the teaching service, and proposing to lower the minimum entry requirements. Lowering of minimum entry standards for teachers is a serious affront to national development and may be a recipe for failed future economy,” TSC argued.

The National Qualifications Authority had announced it had lowered qualifications for admission to teacher training colleges for diplomas and certificates.

Students with a C plain or C- in KCSE were to be admitted to study for diploma in education down from the previous C+.

According to the notice, Applicants for P1 required just D+ instead of C plain. The changes targeted to address, among other issues, the shortage of teachers especially in northern Kenya.