TSC Urged to Reassess Teacher Recruitment Criteria Beyond KCSE Scores

The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) is facing renewed calls to revise its teacher recruitment policies by placing greater emphasis on academic growth rather than solely relying on Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) scores.

The Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) argues that the current policy unfairly disadvantages candidates who may not have performed well in secondary school but have since achieved higher qualifications.

KNUT Secretary General Collins Oyuu expressed concern that the requirement for diploma teachers to attain a minimum grade of C (plain) in KCSE fails to acknowledge the educational advancements many individuals have made since completing secondary education.

He highlighted that several professionals in the education sector, including professors and university lecturers, did not initially achieve high KCSE scores but later excelled academically.

Oyuu contended that it is unjust for the TSC to exclude such individuals from teaching positions in junior secondary schools based solely on their initial grades.

Many educators have demonstrated dedication by earning degrees and postgraduate qualifications, often while working full-time. He urged the Commission to prioritize candidates’ highest level of education during the recruitment process.

According to Oyuu, this commitment and progress should be recognized and rewarded in the hiring process.

He illustrated his point with the example of a student who began with a low KCSE score but advanced through various colleges in Kenya and abroad to ultimately become a professor, arguing that early academic performance should not be the sole measure of a teacher’s potential or capability.

Oyuu further noted that KCSE results do not accurately reflect a student’s abilities, as they can be influenced by various factors, including socioeconomic conditions and the school environment.

He suggested that some students might have performed better if they had attended more prestigious schools or had access to better resources.

Given the ongoing shortage of teachers, Oyuu emphasized the need for a more inclusive recruitment strategy. He pointed out that many teachers are managing classrooms with over 100 students, far exceeding the recommended teacher-student ratio of 1:45, which compromises the quality of education.

Highlighting the shared goal of educating students, the union also called for unity among Junior Secondary School (JSS) and primary school teachers to eliminate disparities in deployment.

KNUT has urged both the TSC and the government to reassess hiring practices and adopt a more progressive approach to teacher recruitment.