By Valentine Omondi
The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) has announced a specialised retooling programme for senior school teachers handling Media Technology, Film and Theatre, with the first group scheduled for training between 23 November and 12 December 2026.
In an internal memo dated 16 October 2026, referenced TSC/D(TPM)/MEMOS/CDS/40/VOL.III/74, the commission directed regional and county directors to identify and nominate eligible teachers for the programme, which seeks to strengthen the teaching of creative arts subjects under the Competency-Based Education (CBE) curriculum.
County directors have been instructed to submit the details of nominated teachers by Friday, 30 October 2026.
The programme targets teachers handling the three subjects within the Sports and Creative Arts pathway in Senior School. It is intended to strengthen their technical knowledge, teaching skills and ability to deliver practical learning under the new curriculum.
The training will combine theoretical instruction with practical sessions, while a second cohort is scheduled for April 2027.
Who Qualifies for the Training?
The programme targets TSC-registered teachers and tutors in Teachers Training Colleges who have relevant professional or academic qualifications and are involved in teaching the targeted subjects.
Teachers with recognised teaching qualifications, including a Bachelor of Education, Diploma in Teacher Education or Diploma in Secondary Teacher Education, may qualify if they are assigned to teach Media Technology, Film and Theatre under CBE.
The programme also targets teachers and tutors with additional qualifications in relevant creative and media disciplines.
These include Mass Communication, Film and Theatre, Graphic Design, Animation, Sound Production, Audio and Video Editing, Photography and Videography.
Such qualifications may be at certificate, diploma, bachelor’s degree or postgraduate level, provided they are obtained from recognised institutions and are relevant to the training.
Teachers involved in co-curricular activities related to the subjects may also be considered. These include those supervising drama, film, journalism and media clubs.
However, meeting the academic or professional requirements does not automatically guarantee participation. Eligible teachers must be identified and nominated through the official TSC process.
The commission has also indicated that nominees should possess basic digital literacy skills, including the ability to operate a computer, use email and access a Learning Management System.
Training Dates and Venues
According to the programme details published on 19 October, the first cohort will attend face-to-face training from 23 November to 12 December 2026.
The second cohort is scheduled for April 2027.
The programme has designated nine regional training hubs to serve teachers from different counties.
The hubs and their host institutions are:
Nairobi: Kenya Institute of Mass Communication (KIMC), Main Campus.
Machakos: Scott Christian University.
Nakuru: Kabarak University.
Kitui: Tseikuru National Polytechnic.
Murang’a: Michuki National Polytechnic.
Eldoret: KIMC Eldoret Campus and Rift Valley Technical Training Institute.
Kisumu: The Kisumu National Polytechnic.
Mombasa: The Kenya Coast National Polytechnic.
Kisii: Kisii National Polytechnic.
The hubs are intended to serve teachers from the 47 counties, with participants assigned to designated training centres according to the programme’s arrangements.
Teachers should confirm their assigned venues through the relevant education offices rather than assume that the nearest institution will automatically be their training centre.
The 30 October deadline applies to the submission of nominees’ details by county directors. Teachers should therefore follow up with their respective education offices to establish whether they have been nominated.
How Teachers Will Be Nominated
The commission has directed county directors to identify eligible teachers and submit their details using the prescribed nomination process.
The information required includes each teacher’s full name, TSC number, telephone number, school, subject, sub-county and county.
The nomination exercise is intended to identify teachers whose professional backgrounds and teaching responsibilities align with the subjects covered by the programme.
Teachers handling Media Technology, Film and Theatre should contact their respective education offices for guidance on nomination and confirmation of participation.
The programme is part of the broader effort to prepare teachers to deliver specialised subjects under the Competency-Based Education curriculum.
TSC’s Teacher Retooling Drive
The latest announcement builds on earlier teacher training exercises conducted by the commission as Kenya prepared to introduce Senior School under CBE.
In July 2025, TSC announced a nationwide retooling programme for senior school teachers, with training activities scheduled between 28 July and 15 August 2025.
The exercise covered teachers in regular secondary schools, Special Needs Education institutions and vocational training institutions. Teachers were grouped according to subjects and learning pathways, including Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics, Social Sciences, and Arts and Sports Science.
The training model involved master trainers preparing trainers of teachers, who would subsequently train teachers in different counties.
The approach was designed to build teaching capacity ahead of the transition of the first CBE cohort to Grade 10 in January 2026.
By November 2025, the government reported that TSC had trained more than 52,000 senior school teachers in preparation for the transition. Senior Deputy Director for Teacher Professional Development Andrew Mwathi said the exercise covered teachers serving in regular secondary schools, Special Needs Education institutions and vocational training centres.
The training formed part of preparations for teachers expected to handle learners in Grades 10 to 12.
The October 2026 programme now focuses specifically on Media Technology, Film and Theatre, highlighting the continued need for subject-specific preparation as senior school implementation progresses.
Why the Training Matters
Under CBE, Senior School provides pathways through which learners can pursue areas aligned with their interests, abilities and future aspirations.
The Sports and Creative Arts pathway includes subjects that require practical instruction alongside theoretical learning. Media Technology, Film and Theatre therefore demand teaching approaches that enable learners to develop relevant technical and creative competencies.
The TSC programme is intended to strengthen teachers’ capacity to deliver these subjects through practical instruction, appropriate teaching methods and the integration of media technologies into learning.
For teachers involved in drama, film, journalism and related school activities, the training may also help align their existing experience with the formal requirements of the curriculum.
The effectiveness of the programme will depend on the identification of suitable participants, the quality of the training and how the acquired skills are subsequently applied in classrooms.
With the nomination deadline set for 30 October, county education offices now have the responsibility of identifying eligible teachers ahead of the first training cohort scheduled to begin on 23 November 2026.
