Explained: How TSC Awards Marks During Recruitment of Junior Secondary Teacher Interns

The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) uses a 100-mark selection system to rank applicants seeking internship opportunities in Junior Secondary Schools (JSS).

Candidates are awarded marks based on their academic qualifications, age, teaching subject combination, and the number of years they have remained qualified as teachers.

The selection score guide forms part of the Commission’s teacher recruitment guidelines and is used by Sub-County Selection Panels during the recruitment process.

The panel averages applicants’ scores before the final marks are recorded.

TSC Awards Up to Five Marks for Academic Qualifications

The first section of the score sheet assesses an applicant’s academic and professional qualifications, with a maximum score of five marks.

For applicants with a Bachelor of Education (B.Ed.) degree, the scores are awarded as follows:

* First Class – 5 marks

* Second Class – 4 marks

* Pass – 3 marks

The same scoring applies to graduates holding a Bachelor of Arts (BA) or Bachelor of Science (BSc) degree together with a Postgraduate Diploma in Education (PGDE).

Applicants with Diploma qualifications are also assessed under the same five-mark category. Those with a Diploma in Technical Education or Diploma in Education are awarded:

* Distinction – 5 marks

* Credit – 4 marks

* Pass – 3 marks

Older applicants receive higher age scores

Age is another factor considered during TSC recruitment.

For the general Junior Secondary teacher internship recruitment, applicants aged 50 years and above receive the maximum 10 marks.

* 50 years and above – 10 marks

* 45 to 49 years – 9 marks

* 40 to 44 years – 8 marks

* 39 years and below – 7 marks

Teaching subjects carry the highest weight

Teaching subject combinations account for the largest share of the selection score, carrying a maximum of 65 marks.

Applicants qualified to teach Science subjects receive the highest score under this category.

The marks are allocated as follows:

* One Science subject (Biology, Chemistry or Physics) – 65 marks

* Mathematics or another non-science subject – 55 marks

* One Technical or Creative Arts subject – 40 marks

* One Language subject – 25 marks

* One Arts subject – 5 marks

Technical and Creative Arts subjects include Home Science, Computer Studies, Business Studies, Music, Drawing and Design, Art and Design, Woodwork, Electricity, Aviation Technology, Electronics, Building and Construction, Metalwork, Power Mechanics and Physical Education.

Language subjects include English, Kiswahili, French, German, Arabic and Mandarin.

Arts subjects include History, Geography, Christian Religious Education (CRE), Islamic Religious Education (IRE), Hindu Religious Education (HRE) and Life Skills.

Years since qualifying as a teacher also matter

The Commission also awards marks based on the period an applicant has remained qualified as a teacher.

Those who qualified earlier receive higher marks than recent graduates.

The score allocation is:

* Qualified in 2016 or earlier – 20 marks

* 2017 – 18 marks

* 2018 – 16 marks

* 2019 – 14 marks

* 2020 – 12 marks

* 2021 – 10 marks

* 2022 – 8 marks

* 2023 – 6 marks

* 2024 – 4 marks

* 2025 – 2 marks

According to the guidelines, the year an applicant satisfactorily qualified as a teacher under TSC policies is used when calculating this score, rather than the year appearing on the academic certificate used to assess professional qualifications.

Separate score guide for applicants with disabilities

The Commission has also provided a separate selection score guide for teacher interns with disabilities applying for Junior Secondary School positions.

The scoring criteria for academic qualifications, teaching subjects and years since qualifying remain the same. However, the age brackets differ.

Under the disability score guide, applicants are awarded:

* 45 years and above – 10 marks

* 40 to 44 years – 9 marks

* 35 to 39 years – 8 marks

* 34 years and below – 7 marks

Applicants under this category are also required to provide their registration number from the National Council for Persons with Disabilities (NCPWD).

How the final score is determined

The final score is obtained by adding marks awarded in the four assessment areas:

* Academic and professional qualifications – 5 marks

* Age – 10 marks

* Teaching subjects – 65 marks

* Length of stay since qualifying as a teacher – 20 marks

This gives a maximum score of 100 marks, which the Sub-County Selection Panel uses to rank applicants during the recruitment of Junior Secondary School teacher interns.

Successful applicants are then considered for available internship vacancies based on their scores and the subject needs in each sub-county.