By Samuel Kuria, ITPD

September 4, 2023

Introduction

In today’s rapidly evolving educational landscape, the concept of competency-based curriculum (CBC) has gained widespread recognition for its potential to transform the way we teach and learn. CBC focuses on learner mastery of specific skills and knowledge rather than the traditional one-size-fits-all approach. While this shift is undoubtedly exciting, it also presents educators/teachers with new challenges and demands. To successfully navigate this transformation, ongoing teacher professional development (TPD) is not just beneficial – it’s absolutely critical.

The Changing Face of Education

Competency-based education recognizes that every learner is unique, with distinct strengths, weaknesses, and learning paces. Traditional educational systems such as 8-4-4 often struggled to cater to these individual needs. CBC, on the other hand, places learners at the center of their learning journey, allowing them to progress as they demonstrate proficiency in each competency.

This shift requires a complete rethinking of teaching methods, assessment strategies, and classroom dynamics. It also necessitates a deep understanding of the competencies themselves. Ongoing TPD helps teachers stay abreast of these changes and equips them with the tools and strategies necessary for effective implementation.

Aligning Instruction with Competencies
One of the key challenges in a CBC environment is ensuring that classroom instruction aligns perfectly with the defined learning outcomes. Teachers must not only identify these learning outcomes but also design learning experiences that enable students to acquire them. Ongoing TPD provides educators with insights into effective instructional design, curriculum mapping, and assessment practices, making it easier to connect classroom activities to specific learning outcomes.

Individualized Learning Paths
CBC emphasizes the importance of personalized learning paths, where students progress at their own pace. This demands a high degree of adaptability from teachers, who must be prepared to support learners at various points in their learning journeys. Professional development opportunities help teachers develop the skills to differentiate instruction and provide tailored support to learners, ensuring that no one is left behind.

Assessment for Learning
In CBC, assessment is not just about assigning grades; it’s a powerful tool for learning. Teachers need to be proficient in creating formative assessments that help learners gauge their own progress and make necessary improvements. Continuous TPD empowers teachers to design effective assessment strategies that align with competencies, providing valuable feedback for both learners and teachers.

Embracing Technology
Technology plays a pivotal role in CBC. From learning management systems to data analytics tools, educators must leverage technology to create engaging and personalized learning experiences. Ongoing TPD equips teachers with the skills to harness the potential of technology, ensuring that they can seamlessly integrate it into their teaching practices.

Meeting Diverse Needs
CBC is inclusive by design, aiming to meet the diverse needs of all students. To do this effectively, teachers must understand and address various learning styles, abilities, and backgrounds. TPD often includes training on culturally responsive teaching and strategies for accommodating diverse learners, ensuring that no student is left behind.

Conclusion

As the educational landscape continues to evolve, ongoing teacher professional development remains a cornerstone of success in implementing competency-based curriculum (CBC). It equips educators with the knowledge, skills, and strategies necessary to align instruction with competencies, support individualized learning paths, create effective assessments, embrace technology, and meet the diverse needs of students.

CBC has the potential to revolutionize education in Kenya by putting students at the forefront of their learning experiences. To make this vision a reality, we must invest in ongoing teacher professional development. By doing so, we empower teachers to navigate the challenges of CBC and ensure that every student has the opportunity to excel and thrive in a competency-based educational environment.

By Media Team @Educationnewshub.co.ke

The Teachers Service Commission, TSC, has rolled out in service training programmes for all practicing teachers. The Commission has already contracted institutions that will be offering the refresher training programme christened Teacher Professional Development (TPD) modules.

The teachers will be expected to meet the training costs for the modules that will be offered during school holidays at a rate of KSh6,000 per year. Of importance to note is the fact that the training will be mandatory for all practicing teachers.

A teacher who will fail to undertake the short courses would be deemed to have violated the TSC code of regulation and may face disciplinary action from the employer.

Kenyatta University, Mount Kenya University, Riara University and Kenya Education Management Institute (KEMI) have been identified to offer the Teacher Professional Development modules. A teacher will be at liberty to choose an institution of his/ her choice where to take the TPD modules.

According to TSC, the starting date will be December, 2021. Teacher Professional Development will continuously update teacher knowledge, skills, attitude and values encourage teachers’ learning communities.

The good news for teachers is that most of the TPD modules will be available online. “Many components of the TSC Teacher Professional Development programme will be available to teachers online and will be accessed through mobile phones,” says the Commission.

DETAILS ON THE TPD MODULES

All teachers will now be required to undergo professional development training six times in their career with each module taking a period of five (5) years. This means training will be done after every five years for a maximum of thirty years.

The number of modules to be undertaken will, though, depend on the number of years that a teacher still has in service. Consequently, the type of module to be taken will largely depend on the number of years that a teacher still has in service; before attaining retirement age. A teacher beginning the training will be required to complete seven sections of module one in order to be re-certified.

According to a policy statement paper prepared by TSC in 2018, Teachers will be trained for about five (5) days during school holidays. Upon commencement of the programme, a teacher will be required to acquire a certificate, which is renewable every five years while subsequent applicants for certificate of registration will be issued with both certificates.

After completing all Teacher Professional Development modules, teachers will be eligible for re-certification and promotion; as the TPD modules have been anchored in the Career Progression Guidelines, CPG.

The training will also enhance the teacher’s knowledge and skills in order to address gaps in the Teacher Performance and Appraisal Development, TPAD. They will also keep teachers informed, enable them improve their pedagogical skills and acquire new, relevant, knowledge in their teaching areas.

On the flip side, teachers who would fail after the TPD assessment will have their teaching certificates withdrawn.