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"content": "Mr. Speaker, Sir, the response to the specific questions Nos.1 to 5 is as follows:- From 2003 to 2005, the number of teachers admitted to the diploma colleges was 2,121, 2,223 and 2,135 respectively. However, public and private universities and private diploma colleges determined the number admitted to their respective institutions. Universities are known to admit students with Mean Grade C Plain, because they are the sole examining bodies. However, this is not in tandem with the Ministry’s set requirements and TSC conditions for employing teachers. Mr. Speaker, Sir, secondly, as explained in the above opening statement, the Government in consultation with the relevant stakeholders, sets the minimum entry qualifications for different levels of teachers’ education. In the year 2005, the Government reviewed and set entry requirements for diploma in education at a minimum of KCSE Mean Grade C Plus, C Plus minimum for the two teaching subjects and C Plain for a P1 primary school education teacher. Further, the Kenya National Examination Council (KNEC) examines and issues certificates for diploma in teacher education and ensures that the C Plus requirement is adhered to. This is a departure from the past, where individual institutions were examining and certificating their students. Consequently, the TSC adopted the above minimum entry requirements for diploma teachers education. These qualifications apply to all teachers’ training institutions offering diplomas, including universities. Mr. Speaker, Sir, in 2005 admission requirements for diploma colleges changed from a minimum of Grade C Plain to a minimum of C Plus in KCSE and a minimum of C Plus in two teaching subjects. The KNEC has also ceased to examine candidates with lower academic qualifications. Therefore, graduates with diploma in education certificates issued by any teachers’ training institution, having admitted students who did not meet the set admission criteria, are not eligible to be employed by the TSC. The Commision has been and still employs diploma teachers who graduated before 2008, when the policy was C Plain. Mr. Speaker, Sir, all teachers must adhere to the set Government admission requirements, to ensure quality teaching and avoid application of double standards in the recruitment process. To ensure maintenance of quality in our education system and continued improvement of human capital training to teach, they will be expected to attain the set minimum qualifications. Mr. Speaker, Sir, finally, Article 35 (1) of the TSC Act, 2012, states:- “To ensure quality teaching, the Commission shall take all necessary steps to ensure that persons in the teaching service comply with the teaching standards prescribed by the Commission from time to time.” To this end, the Teachers’ Service Commission does not discriminate any category of teachers, but rather enforces the Government’s admission requirements for each level of teacher education. Further, it should be noted that the Government takes into consideration affirmative action for persons with special needs, for instance, the visually handicapped and hearing impaired, who are admitted with qualifications of one grade lower for each level, for example, Primary Teachers Education (P.T.E), C Minus and Diploma Teachers Education (D.T.E), C Plain. Mr. Speaker, Sir, this Statement is signed by Prof. Kaimenyi, the Cabinet Secretary for Education. The electronic version of the Senate Hansard Report is for information purposes only. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor, Senate."
}