TSC vs. Ministry of Education: Fresh Clash Over Regional Special Needs Assessment Centers
The battle for control between the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) and the Ministry of Education (MoE) is heating up once again, this time over the establishment of Education Assessment and Resource Centres (EARCs) in eight regions across Kenya. The move, aimed at improving the assessment of learners with disabilities, is set to shake up the current system and potentially render hundreds of TSC Curriculum Support Officers for Special Needs (CSOs) jobless.
Ministry of Education to Take Over Special Needs Assessment
With support from the Kenya Institute of Special Education (KISE) and other stakeholders, the MoE plans to take full control of special needs assessments—currently overseen by TSC. Under the new structure, MoE will recruit new EARC officers, sidelining TSC’s CSOs, who have been responsible for this role.
TSC Likely to Resist Move
TSC is expected to strongly oppose the proposal, arguing that special needs assessment is part of its constitutional mandate under the 2010 Constitution. The commission may also perceive this as an attempt by MoE to interfere with teacher management, which falls strictly within TSC’s jurisdiction.
Reviving a Defunct System?
EARC centers previously existed in the 1990s and early 2000s but collapsed due to underfunding. At the time, CSOs—then under MoE—managed these centers while also overseeing classroom instruction. The Ministry’s new move appears to be a bid to reclaim control over this function, reigniting long-standing tensions with TSC.
What’s at Stake?
Currently, over 1,000 CSOs work under TSC across Kenya, assessing learners with disabilities. If the Ministry’s plan moves forward, these officers could be displaced, leading to potential disruptions in special needs education.
This power struggle is likely to shape the future of inclusive education in Kenya, with both sides standing firm on their mandates. Will the Ministry succeed in implementing the new EARC system, or will TSC push back? Stay tuned for updates on this unfolding education battle.
