Teachers will receive their first face-to-face TPD training in December

Teachers will receive their first face-to-face TPD training in December

For the first time, teachers who are members of the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) will receive face-to-face Teacher Professional Development (TPD) training.

The training has mostly been conducted online up until this point, with rare instances of teachers physically attending different recognized universities for their training, which is typically done in the evening or at night.

Already, each Sub County’s TPD service providers has determined the locations for TPD training.

On September 22, 2021, TSC announced the beginning of the TPD, mandating all teachers registered with the commission to complete the six-module course that would serve as the foundation for their future employment and promotion.

The program consists of six modules. Training is carried out over the holidays. Teachers will receive a number of points at the conclusion of every module.

Since the modules have been anchored in the professional progression criteria, instructors will be qualified for re-certification and advancement once they have completed all of the modules.

Before moving on to the next module, each instructor must pay Sh6,000 for the previous module, which is valid for five years.

Only teachers with teaching licenses—which can only be obtained after passing the modules—will be permitted to teach, according to TSC.

The Kenya Education Management Institute, Mt. Kenya University, Kenyatta University, and Riara University were chosen by the Commission to provide the professional training.

However, teachers are waiting for President William Ruto to fulfill his commitment to cover the cost of TPD training.

Ruto declared that his government would cover the cost of the contentious teacher training program during the campaign and manifesto launch at the Moi Sports Centre Kasarani in Nairobi.

Through the Kenya Kwanza Education Charter, this commitment is further highlighted by the nation’s fifth President.

“Ensure that all the government initiated capacity building trainings including Teacher Continuous Professional Development are undertaken by trainers free of charge,” reads the document.

Due of their shrinking pay stubs, the majority of instructors have not yet signed up for the training.

Those who are now enrolled are finishing the initial module this year in December, at which point they will receive their credentials, increasing their chances of advancement.

The December training will begin following the third-term break for schools. According to the Ministry of Education’s school term dates, schools will conclude on November 25, 2022, and reopen on January 23, 2023.

The dismissal of a petition opposing the TPD program’s execution recently gave TSC a boost.

Mr. Joseph Ngethe Karanja filed a lawsuit with the Employment and Labour Relations Court in Nakuru, seeking the program’s cancellation due to teacher rights violations and a lack of public engagement.