The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) has stepped up efforts to strengthen Competency-Based Education (CBE) by rolling out specialised training in film, music and sports for Junior School teachers. The move signals a growing focus on nurturing learners’ talents beyond conventional classroom instruction. TSC says practical training for teachers of the creative and media learning areas starts on 23 November 2026.
What the training aims to do
The initiative seeks to equip teachers with practical skills, creative approaches and the confidence to deliver learning in areas that demand performance, innovation, collaboration and hands-on participation.
It is part of the ongoing transition to competency-based learning, which emphasises identifying each learner’s abilities and giving learners opportunities to develop their talents. Unlike conventional approaches that largely emphasise academic achievement, CBE recognises that learners have different abilities and interests that need deliberate nurturing. Music, sports and film give schools platforms to develop creativity, communication, teamwork and practical competencies.
Start date, venues and learning areas
TSC Acting Chief Executive Officer Dr Evaleen Mitei said that from 23 November 2026, teachers handling Creative Arts, Music and Dance, Theatre and Film, and Media Technology and Studies will undergo hands-on training. The sessions will use experts, equipment and facilities at Kenya Institute of Mass Communication (KIMC) centres across the country.
TSC is finalising similar specialised training for teachers handling Sports Science, Recreation and Physical Education.
Film
Through film-related instruction, teachers are expected to gain skills that will help learners explore storytelling, visual communication, creative expression and basic production techniques.
Film gives learners opportunities to communicate ideas, interpret experiences and build confidence through practical creative projects. It can also introduce them to emerging opportunities in the creative and digital industries.
Music
The music component is intended to strengthen teachers’ ability to guide learners in musical expression, performance and other creative activities.
Beyond entertainment, music helps develop discipline, confidence, cultural appreciation, creativity and self-expression. Equipping teachers with the necessary skills is expected to help schools provide more structured opportunities for learners to discover and nurture their musical abilities.
Sports
The sports component recognises the importance of physical education in developing well-rounded learners. Through structured sporting activities, learners acquire life skills including teamwork, leadership, discipline, resilience and respect for others.
The training is expected to improve teachers’ ability to organise sporting activities, identify emerging talent and encourage wider learner participation.
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Teachers at the centre of CBE
The latest training reinforces the central role teachers play in turning curriculum objectives into classroom experiences.
The success of such programmes will, however, depend on more than training alone. Schools need appropriate learning materials, adequate facilities, enough time for practical activities and sustained professional development. Teachers must also be supported to share newly acquired skills and effective teaching approaches with colleagues, so that implementation is strengthened across schools.
As junior schools continue adjusting to the demands of CBE, the expanded focus on film, music and sports is expected to make learning more practical, inclusive and responsive to individual abilities. The measure of success will not simply be the number of teachers trained, but the extent to which learners get meaningful opportunities to discover their talents, develop their abilities and turn their potential into practical competencies.