KEWOTA Calls for Review of Teacher Promotion Criteria
Kenya Women Teachers Association CEO, Benta Opande, has called for automatic teacher promotion as a way to address the challenges faced by the teaching profession in Kenya.
The country’s education calendar is currently experiencing a nationwide retooling exercise for teachers in preparation for the implementation of the Competency Based Curriculum.
However, there have been complaints from teachers over the qualification criteria used for the promotion of teachers to Junior Secondary Schools (JSS)
Opande has called for an evaluation of the systems for promoting teachers and for more clarity from the Teachers Service Commission (TSC).
Automatic teacher promotion would involve creating a system that promotes teachers based on their years of service and their performance evaluations in the classroom.
This system would motivate and reward teachers for their hard work and dedication to their profession and eliminate the need for teachers to go through a cumbersome promotion process that can be biased, unfair and frustrating.
It would also give teachers a clear path for advancement and provide them with tangible rewards for their hard work and dedication.
Opande acknowledges the challenges to implementing automatic teacher promotion, such as ensuring that the criteria for promotion is fair and objective.
However, the benefits are clear. By rewarding excellence in teaching, the education system would be able to attract and retain the best teachers, leading to better outcomes for students.
“Teaching has often been considered a thankless job, with little appreciation and recognition for the hard work and dedication that goes into it.”
It would also help to improve the status and reputation of the teaching profession, making it a more attractive career option for young people.
Moreover, automatic teacher promotion recognises the importance of experience in teaching. Experienced teachers have a wealth of knowledge and skills that can be passed on to their students.
By promoting teachers based on their years of service, the system encourages teachers to stay in the profession and continue to develop their skills over time.
KEWOTA Calls for Review of Teacher Promotion Criteria
