TSC Launches Virtual Learning Connecting Students to Best Teachers

A teacher at Butere Primary School in Kakamega County introduces her pupils to digital tablets on May 3, 2016
A teacher at Butere Primary School in Kakamega County introduces her pupils to digital tablets on May 3, 2016
File

The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) Chief Executive Officer, Nancy Macharia, has launched a revolutionary programme connecting learners to the best teachers.

In the event that took place on Wednesday, January 26, at Alliance Girls High School, Macharia noted that the new virtual learning programme will help solve the teachers deficit while according quality education to learners countrywide.

She further noted that in the next two months, the commission will carry out a pilot programme before its official launch slated for a later date.

The new programme targets schools in 30 counties representing 110 sub-counties whose quality of education is often affected by insecurity as well as natural disasters.

TSC CEO Nancy Macharia addressing teachers at Safari Park Hotel on Tuesday, July 13, 2021
TSC CEO Nancy Macharia addressing teachers at Safari Park Hotel on Tuesday, July 13, 2021.
TSC /Twitter

In the pilot programme, teachers from two schools, Alliance Girls High School and Machakos Boys High School, will tutor 10 other satellite schools' students alongside their own.

Lessons in questions will involve Sciences, Mathematics and English subjects.

''Students from 110 sub-counties from 30 counties will access live-streaming lessons from teachers of top schools in a bid to ease staff shortage.

''The live streaming of lessons will be piloted for two months, focusing on Sciences, Mathematics and English subjects'," announced Macharia.

The Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET), through its Secretary General, Akelo Misori, welcomed the new programme noting that it would help solve issues that had affected the industry for decades.

''We have realised that because of the challenges of the 21st Century, we need to bridge the gap. I appreciate this endeavour by TSC," stated Misori.

Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) Secretary General, Collins Oyuu, who had raised concerns over an acute shortage of teachers in Kenya today, hailed the new endeavour noting that it would improve students' grades.

"I am happy TSC is mitigating performance gaps through interventions like live streaming. We shall have better performance of learners in target subjects and balanced syllabus coverage,'' he stated.

In mid-January, Oyuu stated that primary schools has a deficit of 84,000 teachers while in high school, the deficit stood at 12,000 tutors.

KNUT Sec-Gen Collins Oyuu
KNUT Sec-Gen Collins Oyuu addressing members of the press in July 2021.
Daily Nation