TSC Excludes 26 Undergraduate Courses from PGDE Qualification
The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) of Kenya, established in accordance with Article 237(1) and (2) of the 2010 Constitution of Kenya, plays a central role in overseeing teacher-related functions within the country. Among its responsibilities is the registration of qualified and trained teachers, a pivotal step in maintaining education quality in both public and private schools.
To be eligible for teacher registration, individuals are required to possess a Bachelor’s Degree in Science or Arts and a Post Graduate Diploma in Education (PGDE). However, there are certain undergraduate courses where the application of PGDE is deemed invalid due to curriculum and subject limitations.
Constraints in Applying PGDE:
The criteria for teacher registration with a PGDE necessitate individuals to hold a Bachelor’s Degree along with a PGDE, specializing in two teaching subjects. However, there’s a significant condition to note: individuals with an academic background in subjects not currently part of the curriculum are ineligible for teacher registration, even if they possess PGDE qualifications.
Courses Not Meeting PGDE Qualification:
A comprehensive list of such courses that do not meet the requirements encompasses a wide range, including Natural Resources, Meteorology, Forestry, Animal Husbandry, Horticulture, Farm Machinery, Fisheries, Anthropology, Sociology, Theology/Divinity, Journalism, Kiswahili and Communication, Business Management/Administration, Banking and Finance, Genomics, Actuarial Science, Environmental Science, Criminology, Biotechnology and Agriculture, all Engineering-related Courses, Industrial Chemistry, Biochemistry, Hospitality and Tourism, Foods, Nutrition, and Dietetics, Technology and Applied Biology, Microbiology, and more.
This exclusion is rooted in subject content and its alignment with the necessary proficiency for effective teaching. Courses that do not meet the criteria often lack the comprehensive depth required to excel in the role of an educator.
The prerequisite of mastering content in two teaching subjects, a fundamental aspect of PGDE eligibility, cannot be fulfilled when the subject matter is absent from the curriculum or insufficiently covered in these courses.
Conclusion:
While the PGDE pathway is significant for teachers to register with the TSC, it’s imperative to recognize that certain undergraduate courses do not meet the required subject content standards. The emphasis on subject mastery and curriculum alignment underscores the TSC’s commitment to upholding education quality in Kenyan institutions.
As the educational landscape evolves, acknowledging these intricacies ensures that teacher registration is founded on subject expertise, contributing to a more robust educational foundation for future generations.
TSC Excludes 26 Undergraduate Courses from PGDE Qualification
