TSC rolls out training in film, music and sports for Junior School teachers

By  Winnie Atieno

Correspondent

Nation Media Group

The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) has announced specialised practical training for teachers handling new learning areas under the Competency-Based Education (CBE) curriculum, in a move aimed at addressing skills gaps ahead of the Junior School transition.

Since the introduction of CBE, learners have not been adequately taught some specialised learning areas due to a shortage of qualified teachers.

However, TSC is now partnering with various agencies to address the challenge.

Addressing more than 15,000 headteachers at the Sheikh Zayed Children Welfare Centre in Mombasa during the 2026 Kenya Comprehensive School Heads Association (KECSHA) conference, Acting TSC CEO Dr Evaleen Mitei said the commission had partnered with the Kenya Institute of Mass Communication (KIMC) to train teachers in emerging subjects.

Starting November 23, 2026, teachers handling Creative Arts, Music and Dance, Theatre and Film, and Media Technology and Studies will undergo hands-on training using specialised facilities at KIMC centres across the country.

“The Commission is at an advanced stage in the preparation of teachers in the new learning areas of the curriculum. The Commission is injecting expertise in these areas through collaboration and partnership with KIMC. This will prepare our teachers in practical training using experts, equipment and facilities in KIMC training centres across the country,” said Dr Mitei.

Similar specialised training programmes are being finalised for teachers handling Sports Science, Recreation and Physical Education.

“As Heads of Institutions, your responsibility goes beyond facilitating attendance of these teachers. You must ensure that acquired knowledge translates into effective classroom practice and improved learner outcomes. Let us make professional development a continuous culture, not a one-off activity. Our teachers must keep growing if our learners are to keep achieving,” she said.

Dr Mitei said the government had recruited 100,000 teachers over the past three years to support the Junior School rollout, with an additional 16,000 expected to be posted shortly to stabilise staffing levels across institutions.

On digital learning, she said the distribution of devices to 10,000 Junior Schools was ongoing, with the remaining 11,000 institutions expected to receive them by April, alongside the rollout of high-speed fibre-optic internet.

The commission has also prioritised career progression and teacher motivation through a review of the Career Progression Guidelines (CPG) and promotions to address career stagnation.

Dr Mitei said the promotion of 34,016 teachers was on course, with interview results being processed.

She added that TSC had trained 62,000 teachers on the use of digital devices and deployed ICT Champions in collaboration with the World Bank, the Centre for Mathematics, Science and Technology Education in Africa (CEMASTEA) and the ICT Authority.

Dr Mitei also issued a stern directive to school heads on the management of institutional data through the Teacher Management Information System (TMIS).

She cautioned that delays in processing teacher releases, managing entry and exit portals, or reporting anomalies could compromise payroll integrity and attract personal accountability under public finance regulations.

School administrators were also urged to monitor their official TSC email accounts to ensure timely communication and approvals.

She further urged school leaders to prioritise teacher wellness, create supportive working environments and promote institutional mentorship to improve education standards.

Dr Mitei said TSC was advancing professional development through the revamped Teacher Professional Development (TPD) programme, delivered through the T-Learn system, and structured, institution-supported cascade retooling.

More than 310,000 teachers have undergone CBE retooling through the multi-agency programme.

She said digital literacy and ICT integration remained central to teaching and learning under the new curriculum.

Dr Mitei cited examples of how technology was bridging geographical gaps, allowing learners in remote Loiyangalani to participate in live Integrated Science lessons streamed from Kilifi through platforms such as LabXchange, even without physical laboratories.

Similarly, learners in Wajir can receive Chemistry lessons from teachers in Alliance High School through livestreaming.

The National Government, through a partnership involving the Ministry of ICT, ICT Authority and TSC, is implementing the Kenya Digital Economy Acceleration Project (KDEAP), with support from the World Bank.

The initiative aims to expand access to affordable, high-speed internet and provide digital devices to improve the quality and effectiveness of teaching and learning.

Dr Mitei urged school heads to empower ICT Champions, strengthen school infrastructure and integrate technology into teaching, assessment and school management.

She also called on administrators to ensure the safety and proper use of devices issued to their institutions.

“If our learners are online, our schools must not remain offline. Our schools being digital is a measure of the quality of our education and enhanced professionalism of our teachers,” she said.

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