The registration of teachers is done by the Teacher Service Commission (TSC). The authority the TSC has is from the 2010 constitution of Kenya under article 237 which directs it to register a qualified person as a teacher and also review the standards of education and training of the person entering the teaching world.
According to the TSC act of 2012 Section 23(2), any person should not be found teaching in any school whether private or public if he or she is not registered by TSC. Further conditions and procedures are also provided in Teacher service Commission code of regulation 2015 part III.
TEACHER REGISTRATION PROCESS
There is an online platform provided by TSC and registration of teachers is done. This can only be achieved if the person registering as a teacher has all the documents.
If all the necessary documents are available, one is required to visit the TSC website www.teachersonline.go.ke and start the whole application process.
Once application process is completed online, TSC receives the data and starts the vetting of the documents immediately. After the process of vetting is completed the applicant is notified the decision within thirty days from the first day of application.
The applicant is issued with the TSC having having a registration number upon a successful vetting. The teacher is allowed to pick the certificate from the postal address provided during application. Through the online platform, the applicant can check their registration status or the TSC number.
REQUIREMENTS FOR REGISTRATION AS A TEACHER
For a Kenyan netizen registering as a teacher, he or she must have the following requirements
- Must have a certificate of good conduct
- Must have a copy of identity card or passport
- Must have a copy of KRA pin certificate
- Must have in possession at academic and professional certificate from a recognized institution which is relevant.
- Dully filled GP 69 medical form
Accompanying the above requirements is payment of registration fee must be made. This is a non-refundable fee of Ksh 1055 made to the TSC through National Bank of Kenya using the account number 0100100090501. Payment can also be done through Mpesa playbill number 625625.
Incase the applicant is a non-citizen, he or she should have the following requirements,
- academic and professional certificates and an evidence for registration as a teacher obtained in Kenya or the country of origin
- all the academic and professional certificates one has must have been awarded from a well known foreign institution and equated by the relevant public body in Kenya.
- a certificate of registration as a teacher or the authority to teaching in the country of origin.
- must have a valid entry or work permit from the department of immigration
- must have a valid certificate of good conduct issued by the relevant law enforcement agency in the country of origin
- he must also have a valid vetting letter from Ministry of Education pay the compulsory fee of ksh.1055
The relax above mentioned documents must be certified by either the County Director of TSC or TSC sub-county director.
Current TSC Minimum academic and professional Requirements
ECDE
current requirements
a) For certificate:
- Minimum of CPE/KCPE together with ECDE certificate from KNEC
- Minimum grade D+ at KSCE and ECDE certificate from KNEC
- minimum grade D plain at KCSE KNEC proficiency certificate, ECDE certificate from the KNEC diploma
b) For PTE
- Minimum grade is C plain in KCSE and above
- PTE certificate from KNEC
- Mean grade of C- for visually and hearing impaired persons
c) For Diploma in Education
- Minimum grade C plus in KSCE and C+ in the two subjects of specialization
- At least a C plain in English
- C plain in Mathematics for science based courses.
- D plain in Mathematics in non -science based courses
d) For diplomatic in Education for visually and hearing impaired
- minimum grade C plain in KCSE and above
- At least C minus in English and a C plain in mathematics for science based courses
- D plain in mathematics in non-science based courses.
e) For a bachelors of education
- minimum mean grade of C+ and above or its equivalent
- C+ plus in two of the subjects of specialization
f) For bachelors of Arts/ science
- Minimum grade of C plus in KCSE and above and C plus in the two subject of specialization.
TSC may refuse to register a teacher due to the following reasons according to section 27 of TSC act 2012 if;
- the teacher does not possess the prescribed qualifications above
- the teacher is not of good moral character
- he or she has been convicted of criminal offence which renders the person unfit to be a teacher
- is engaged in any activities which in the opinion of the commission are prejudicial to peace, good order or good government of Kenya.
- suffer from physical or mental infirmity which renders the person incapable to working as a teacher
The commission has the mandate from the TSC code of regulation to issue an applicant with a duplicate certificate if it get lost, destroyed or misplaced. This is also done online website. Registration fee for the duplicate certificate is Ksh 2055 paid to the same TSC bank account in National Bank of Kenya. This fee is always non -refundable.
