This archive report was first published on 24 November 2019.
On November 24, 2019, the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) introduced a new education policy that has sparked controversy among teachers' unions in Kenya.
According to the policy, primary school head teachers and principals of secondary schools and colleges are required to have bachelor's and master's degrees, respectively. Their deputies are also expected to have similar qualifications as school heads take a more prominent role in the performance of their institutions.
However, the Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) has termed the circular 'offensive and written in bad faith'. KUPPET accused TSC of ignoring the shortage of teachers in schools and the impact of this shortage on the quality of education.
Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) has also expressed its discontent with the policy, urging TSC to focus on its mandate and leave quality assurance to the Education ministry.
