Mount Kenya University has been selected by the Teachers Service Commission to offer professional courses for teachers.
The refresher courses will be a requirement for teachers and will enable them to renew their practising certificate every five years.
Other institutions selected to offer teacher professional development (TPD) training are Kenyatta University, Riara University, and the Kenya Education Management Institute.
TSC selected the three institutions through a competitive process.
Speaking at the launch of the programme on Wednesday, TSC chief executive officer Nancy Macharia said TPD would continue enhancing teachers’ skills throughout their careers.
Teachers will be required to take one module over a five-year period, with those starting out their teaching careers now expected to complete five modules over a 30-year period.
The programme will be reviewed regularly to incorporate new trends.
MKU vice chancellor Deogratius Jaganyi noted that such professional training will enable teachers to effectively deliver their part in the implementation of the Competence-Based Curriculum (CBC).
“As we join hands in the national rollout of CBC in Kenya, the professional process of training the teachers and the need for quality consideration in the process cannot be overemphasised,” he said.
Prof Jaganyi also said that having well-trained teachers will ensure the impact of education on the public is effectively witnessed and improved.
“When we have quality teachers at schools the roll-out of CBC will be more efficiently done. Professional teachers will improve learning outcomes in Kenyan schools,” he said.
He added that TPD will provide opportunities for teachers to explore new roles and develop new instructional and leadership techniques.
"TPD will refine their practice and broaden their outlook as educators and as individuals. This will improve the learning outcomes and definitely the beneficiary is the Kenyan child,” Jaganyi said.
He noted that MKU had made adequate infrastructural investments for the successful implementation of TPD.
These include physical facilities at its different campuses across Kenya as well as facilities that make it easy to deliver teaching through open and distance learning models.
“MKU has an adequate infrastructural network, modern reliable technology, and human resource capacity for the successful implementation of TPD," Jaganyi said.
The university has spread its network within the country in a formidable physical presence through campuses, Open, Distance, and Electronic Learning (ODEL) centres, marketing centres, and strategic partnerships with key stakeholders.
All these will contribute directly towards the effective implementation of the TPD in all the 295 subcounties in Kenya.
“I wish to assure all the stakeholders that, as an accredited service provider, the university management will offer all the necessary support to ensure prompt execution of our mandate and all the eight key deliverables will be delivered within the stipulated timelines,” he said.
