Like doctors, teachers to spend more time in universities as CS Magoha lauds proposal to phase out Bachelor of Education program

Education Cabinet Secretary Prof George Magoha has lauded the phasing out of the Bachelor of Education (BEd) degree program, which would qualify teachers to teach in Secondary schools.

Speaking to journalists after unveiling a three-classroom block at Sagam Secondary School in Siaya Gem sub-county, Magoha said the move by the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) will equip teachers with the right skills to teach CBC in Secondary schools.

TSC proposes that teachers should undertake a Bachelor of Science or Arts course followed by a one-year postgraduate diploma in Education

However, the education CS noted that it is important to allow for consultation on the matter.

The Bachelor of Education program has been the course for Kenya Secondary schoolteachers since its introduction in 1972.

Prof. Magoha said it was a better time for scholars and thinkers to do things differently. He argued that change is the only thing that is constant and shouldn't be taken literally.

"As a professor, I think it is important to train our teachers who are going to teach secondary schools on CBC and also train those already there," he added.

The CS maintained that going forward there is a need for the government to have the first diploma teacher’s intake in June 2021, which has delayed due to the covid -19 pandemic.

"This is basically to improve quality of teachers required in the coming years especially with the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC)," he noted.

Prof. Magoha added that even for him, it would require a little training to go back to the theatre as a surgeon because a lot has changed.

He adds that teachers should be encouraged to take up changes.