TSC rewards teachers for exceptional skills

They say every good deed has a good payment,this is after sixteen secondary school teachers have been promoted due to their distinguished service in and out of the classroom.

The eight secondary teachers and eight principals were the finalists of a competition ran by the Kenya Secondary Schools Heads Association to identify Teacher of the Year and Principal of the Year.

They were picked out of 7,000 secondary school teachers and received cash and other awards. The award scheme recognises teachers who have excelled in discharging their duties and the system encourages teachers to go an extra mile.

Yesterday, the finalists of the competition were given promotion letters to the next job group in a ceremony held in Nairobi.

Speaking during the ceremony, Teachers Service Commission Chairperson Lydia Nzomo said that the commission would pool all the teachers awarded in the scheme to continuously inspire other teachers.

“We will continue to explore innovating ways of rewarding teachers and principals of the year in future. This promotion is a motivation for teachers to go out and inspire others to improve teaching in our schools,” said Dr Nzomo.

This years’ winners were announced after a five-day principals’ conference held in June.

St Joseph’s School Kitale’s Peter Obwogo was announced the principal of the year. The teacher of the year award went to St Anthony’s Boys Trans Nzoia Salyne Nyongesa.

Each of the two winners took home a Sh100, 000 award, a fully paid trip to South Africa for the 9th Pan African Literacy For All Conference in Cape Town in September and a certificate from Teachers’ Service Commission.

They also received cash from Kenya Secondary Schools Heads Association and Kenya National Union of Teachers.

Teachers are required to have demonstrated good management of the curriculum, community development and an interest in students welfare to participate in the competition. A principal also needs to demonstrate good financial management skills and sit for an aptitude test.

This indeed is a positive move that will give all teachers and principles to aspire to more and reach greater heights.

Reference : www.nation.co.ke