Students to monitor teachers in new system

The Commission now believes that with the successful implementation of Teacher Appraisal and Development System, the measures put in place will increase teacher presence in class, enhance teacher development, help institutionalise open appraisal system, encourage supportive supervision, promote integrity in teaching, and more importantly, improve learning outcomes.
Though it sounds controversial and is bound to generate a lot of heat in the teaching/learning sub-sector to find a learner policing (supervising) his/her educator, teachers interviewed in Kisumu, Uasin Gishu, Samburu, Nyeri, Kitui and Kwale counties where the pilot project on TAD was carried out reveal that there has been an improvement by teachers in the use of teaching/learning aids. Scheming and lesson planning are also being done as required by KICD.
According the Deputy Director of Gender Administration at TSC, Dr Joan Ngunnzi, TAD has improved teamwork and cooperation within the teaching staff, reduced absenteeism in the classroom, improved curriculum delivery, and more importantly, improved teaching methodology.
While launching the Teacher Appraisal and Development system at Wild Waters Centre – Mombasa during the KESSHA Conference, the TSC top official who also doubles up as TePIK Implementation Manager revealed that through the new system, teachers are now able to prepare professional documents and actively use them. The system has encouraged team work and allows teachers to have a self-evaluation and opportunity to be appraised by others, including fellow colleagues, students/pupils and members of Boards of Management (BOMs).
“The new system elicits more commitment to teaching and performance of duties, time on task has improved, there is now good time management, proper utilisation of resources, mentoring and peer support, openness and freedom to seek support, motivation has improved confidence and self-esteem at the work place, more so, integrity of teachers has greatly improved in the districts where the system was first launched,” said Ngunnzi.
Turning on the teaching standards which counts towards professional knowledge, Ngunnzi explained that TAD encourages and facilitates teachers to know learners and how they learn, more so, tutors come to know the curriculum and subject content.
“Teachers will now plan for and implement effective teaching/learning, they will create and maintain supportive learning environment, and by extension, assess, approve feedback on and report on learners’ progress.
“The Teacher Appraisal and Development system as viewed by the Commission will assist teachers engage in professional learning with colleagues, parents/guardians and the school community,” confides TSC official.
She announced that there would no longer be confidential teacher appraisal (confidential reporting system). Instead TAD will be conducted publicly to ensure that there is transparency, objectivity, inclusiveness, opportunity for development, creation of trust and more importantly, there will be no victimisation as it has been the case in the past where Head teachers/Principals had the final say on the tutor’s appraisal.
“It’s time for teachers to take responsibility for their personal professional development by participating fully in the Teacher Appraisal and Development initiative,” said Ngunnzi.
The project is designed to contribute towards improving the teacher performance and integrity for increased learning outcomes in both primary and secondary schools.
TePIK is a collaborative initiative between TSC and the British Council funded by the British Government under DFID banner. It was first implemented in two districts in each of the six sampled counties that cover urban, rural, Arid and Semi-arid Lands. It has now become a policy being rolled out in the rest of the counties.
Last year, TSC hinted that it would soon implement a new appraisal system for teachers that is expected to help improve performance in public schools. The Commission also disclosed that it plans to empower teachers reclaim their lost glory and increase public confidence and support for the profession.
Over the years, concern has been raised about the teachers’ low performance and their increased absenteeism from schools that has led to poor student/pupil results.
TAD which is now a policy, aims to improve the teachers’ performance  and stem the public’s diminishing confidence in public schools and in particular the teaching profession.
“The Commission is working to restore confidence in public schools and improve learning outcomes in both primary and secondary schools in the country. We also want to raise awareness on the Teachers Code of Regulation and Ethics and improve the capacity of TSC officials to manage teacher performance both at the National and County levels,” said Ngunnzi.
SOURCE: educationnews.co.ke