Thousands of KCSE candidates could soon get a better chance of joining teacher training colleges after the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) announced plans to lower the minimum entry grade for diploma teacher training courses from C+ to C plain.
The proposed changes are set out in amendments to the TSC Code of Regulations for Teachers and aim to widen access to teacher training while maintaining professional standards.
Under the new proposal, students applying for diploma courses in teaching will now qualify with a KCSE mean grade of C plain. Previously, one needed at least a C+ to join most diploma teacher training programmes.
The commission also proposed special consideration for persons living with disabilities, with some courses allowing entry grades of up to C-.
The changes will be experienced by a number of training programs which include Early Childhood Teacher Education, Primary Teacher Education, Secondary Teacher Education, Technical Teacher Education, Special Needs Education, and Adult and Continuing Teacher Education.
On the other hand, TSC has announced that it will acknowledge single teaching subjects in line with the reforms, especially those which were created under the Competency-Based Curriculum.
The commission noted that the step will help the organization align its operations with the prevailing conditions in the education sector, and ensure there are enough teachers across the country.
In addition, the reforms will create specialized paths for candidates interested in special needs education especially those wishing to teach in an inclusive classroom environment.
Notwithstanding the lowered general requirement, some training courses will continue to have requirements for particular subject grades especially those on STEM subjects, languages, and arts.
In the statement released by the Teachers Service Commission, the reforms are among steps taken by the organization aimed at making teacher training more flexible and inclusive without affecting production of skilled teachers.
It further stated that any individual applying for the registration of a teacher must meet the relevant professional qualifications and be of good morals.