The Teachers Service Commission has officially announced the withdrawal of employment for those possessing the Primary Teacher Education Certificate, commonly known as the P1 certificate, starting from January 2025. The TSC does this in the implementation of the current education reforms in Kenya toward ensuring better quality teaching.

The Teachers Service Commission announced that a diploma in education will be the minimum qualification for teacher recruitment, while the aspiring teachers should have attained a minimum grade of C plain at KCSE with at least D+ in Mathematics and C– in English. This move guarantees that the teachers are well-placed to implement the Competency-Based Curriculum, CBC.

This is in line with the recommendations of the Presidential Working Party on Education Reforms, calling for higher qualifications in the teaching profession. Current holders of the P1 certificate are invited to upgrade their certificates to higher qualifications to remain relevant in the changed job market.

Though the move was welcomed by stakeholders as a missing link in professionalising the teaching fraternity, to others, this may make that profession alienate qualified personnel who cannot meet these changing requirements.

The Commission now calls upon teachers to embrace reforms as a means of realising quality and addressing emerging demands occasioned by the dynamic curriculum.