• Teachers expected to set up a face to face programme of engaging not more than 15 learners for at least 4 hours a day at no charge.
• CEO Nancy Macharia said the programme will jointly be coordinated by ministries of Education, Interior and Health.
Image: ROBERT OMOLLO
The Teachers Service Commission has issued guidelines for the community learning programme.
CEO Nancy Macharia in a notice dated Tuesday, said the guidelines follow extensive consultation with all stakeholders in the education sector.
She said the community learning programme will play a key role as a means of teachers engaging with learners during the current Covid-19 period.
"The commission has directed that all teachers under its employment shall undertake community-based learning programme without charging parents with effect from Agust 12 until further notice," the notice read.
Macharia said the objective of the programme is to engage learners in productive activities with a view to acquiring basic knowledge related to the pandemic and other practical life skills.
"You are expected to work seamlessly as a team and put in place strategies to coordinate, monitor and supervise the teaching and learning at the Sub County and Zonal level," Macharia said.
In the 3 point guidelines, all teachers employed by the Commission have been directed to register with the Curriculum Support Officers and Sub County Directors within Zones and Sub-County where they are currently staying by end of August 12.
Macharia said the programme will jointly be coordinated by ministries of Education, Interior and Health.
"Heads of institutions should be in school at least once per week to supervise and monitor the progress," Macharia said.
The teachers will be required to utilise the Nyumba Kumi programme to ensure that all learners within their areas participate in the programme.
"They must set up a face to face programme of engaging not more than 15 learners while strictly observing the ministry of health guidelines and protocols. This engagement should be at least four hours a day at no charge," the guidelines read in part.
A part from assigning the learners reading and exercises for home study, the teachers will conduct a daily or weekly follow up with students and parents.
According to the guidelines, the Interior ministry will monitor and ensure that no learner fails to participate in the programme within their jurisdiction.
"There is need to have learners understand the learning expectations as there are many factors that can affect engagement in teaching from home situations to technology problems to different learning styles. Teachers need to take these differences into account when helping their learners," the guidelines read.
The guidelines said teachers should use peer-to-peer learning which is a huge advantage in such situations.
They can also use discussion groups during learning and even grading.
"Keep learners engaged during learning using approaches which take their perspective into account. Times like these calls for innovative, creative thinking as well as the use of new approaches and digital tools which can be an asset to teaching," the guidelines read.