TSC TPD Latest News 2021: How Members of Parliament, MPs Reacted, Saved Thousands of Teachers From Paying for the Newly Introduced Compulsory Teacher Professional Development, TPD Refresher Courses
In a nutshell,
TSC TPD News 2021 – 2022; Concerning the TPD charges, the teachers’employer TSC has honoured its part of the bargain confirming that it will pay for TPD refresher modules as earlier directed by Parliament. A total of 1.16 billion has been set aside for the 2022-2023 financial cycle. Legislatures had stated clearly that teachers have committed their salaries therefore the employer should fund the program.
The Teachers Service Commission, TSC recently rolled out Teacher Professional Development, TPD, refresher courses for all teachers.
According to the Commission, all teachers are expected to enroll for these refresher courses and horn their teaching skills and nourish their professional knowledge.
Teachers, who are the key stakeholders are however dissatisfied with the decision and feel pushed to the wall now that their employer is not planning to meet the cost of TPD training.
This is what prompted the Members of Parliament to hold a discussion on the newly introduced Teacher Professional Development TPD modules.
According to a petition brought to the house by Honourable Omboko Milemba, the members of parliament have demonstrated their support for teachers against the compulsive action by Teachers Service Commission to force teachers to go back to class. According to the circular from the commission, all teachers in public schools must undergo teacher professional development course every six months, a programme set to be offered in four chosen universities.
Luckily, members of parliament have argued that teachers are human beings like other government employees and should not be subjected to such stress. The move by the commission contravenes labour practice which protects employees from being forced to undertake refresher courses without proper structure. Further arguments include the manner in which the four universities were chosen terming it suspicious. Concerning the charges they have been called upon to pay for the course, legislatures stated that teachers have committed their salaries therefore the employer should fund the program.
This is How TPD will Work
TSC TPD Programme
The Teacher Professional Development (TPD) programme was officially launched by KNUT’s Collins Oyuu, KUPPET’s Akello Misori, KUSNET’s James Torome, and TSC CEO Nancy Macharia on 22 September 2021.
The main aim of TPD training is to provide professional development of teachers.
TPD raining targets TSC teachers in primary and secondary schools for both private and public schools.
Some of the higher institutions of learning that have been selected by TSC to offer TPD training like Mount Kenya University, Kenyatta University, Riara, Kenya Education Management Institute (KEMI), etc. have opened applications for the TPD training that is set to start in December 2021.
Only TSC registered teachers are eligible for TSC TPD training.
TPD training Cost
Teachers will be required to pay Ksh 6,000 per year. Therefore, after 30 years of TPD training, the teacher would have paid Kenya Shillings 180,000.
Mode of TPD learning
Teachers will be able to learn face to face and online. Face-to-face learning shall be done during the school holidays. Teachers can take TPD online courses during their free time in school.
MKU has indicated that a TPD Mobile App will soon be available for teachers to download and install on their phones. The TPD Mobile App will be used for payments, registration process, access to learning resources, and communication.
TPD Course outline (Modules and Chapters)
TPD course is divided into modules and chapters (units).
Introduction module: Has five chapters and takes one year to complete (1 Year)
Level 1 Module: Has 5 chapters and each chapter takes one year to complete. Therefore, it takes 5 years to complete level one module. The same applies to Level 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6.
Level 2 module: 5 years (5 chapters)
Level 3 module: 5 years (5 chapters)
Level 4 module: 5 years (5 chapters)
Level 5 module: 5 years (5 chapters)
Level 6 module: 5 years (5 chapters)
A teacher is only allowed to take a maximum of 7 years per level. It, therefore, takes a minimum of 31 years to complete the TPD course.
TPD Certificate and Transcript
Teachers will be issued with a transcript after completion of each chapter. TSC will also be sent a copy of the transcript.
A certificate will also be issued after completion of the TPD course. The certificate must be renewed after every five years.