The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) has proposed new guidelines regarding requirements for students wishing to pursue the teaching profession in higher learning institutions.
According to the Commission, those wishing to pursue a course in teaching for junior secondary and senior secondary schools must have scored a minimum overall grade of C+ (plus).
Additional requirements for Bachelor’s degree include a minimum of C+ (plus) in the two subjects the students want to specialise in and a minimum of B- (minus) in Mathematics and English. TSC noted that bridging courses will not be accepted to meet the new requirements.
Previously, candidates needed a minimum of C+ as an overall mean grade and C+ in the teaching subjects. B- (minus) in Mathematics and English was not a requirement.
The students will also receive training in three subjects in the new Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC) that is replacing the 8-4-4 education system.
For instance a student who wants to be a science teacher will be required to take one course on social science and two others in the CBC curriculum.
Those who want to teach in Junior Secondary School (JSS) will be required to have attained a minimum of C+ (plus) in English, Mathematics, Kiswahili, and Chemistry to teach a science subject.
The new proposals will see degree coursework extended to five and half years from the current period of completion of four years.
The students enrolling for a diploma in secondary school education will be required to have attained a minimum of D+ (plus) in Mathematics, a C plain in English, and a minimum overall mean grade of C+ (plus) in KCSE.
The CBC model follows a 2-6-3-3-3 education cycle which means learners transition through a total of 17 levels, with each level lasting for one year.
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