| dc.description.abstract | Lack of a professional body specifically tasked with setting professional standards for teachers in
Kenya is a challenge that should not be ignored any longer. The Sessional paper No. 1of 2005 on
education, training and research explain that teachers are an important input in the Education
system. Given that teachers play a vital role in the development of the needed human resource for
developing Kenya socially, politically and economically, a professional body is necessary to make
teachers more effective. Teachers lack cohesion and are fragmented by qualification level and
specialization. Post-school teachers tend to keep a status distinction between themselves and the
lower level primary school teachers. Lack of homogeneity in the qualifications of teachers weakens
organizational capabilities and common purpose for members of the teaching profession. Existing
organizations are largely trade unions (Kenya National Union of Teacher, KNUT, the Kenya Union
of Post-Secondary Education; KUPPET). Teacher Unions in Kenya have for a long time been
associated with strikes and actions that blocked reform in the teaching profession. Given the low
status of the teaching profession in Kenya, a professional body for teachers that will improve the
quality of teaching through social networks becomes absolutely necessary. | |
