TSC Mentorship Programme: All you Should Know
The TSC Mentorship Programme is a structured initiative established by the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) aimed at providing support and guidance to teachers within the education sector in Kenya. It involves pairing experienced teachers (mentors) with less experienced ones (mentees) to facilitate professional and personal development.
The programme encompasses coaching and mentorship activities designed to enhance skills, competencies, and attitudes among teachers, ultimately improving job performance and career management. Mentors play a crucial role in passing on their expertise, knowledge, and skills to mentees while also providing guidance, counselling, and support.
The programme has defined roles and responsibilities for both mentors and mentees, as well as clear objectives focused on building teacher competencies, supporting career progression, and improving overall teacher professionalism.
DEFINITION OF TERMS
Coaching: Coaching involves a supervisor supporting an individual or team by providing direction and instruction to enhance their skills, competencies, and attitudes, either to learn new skills or to work towards specific goals. The aim is to improve the individual’s job performance.
Mentorship: Mentorship is a structured, ongoing process aimed at helping individuals acquire more knowledge and skills to advance both professionally and personally, enhancing service delivery, job performance, and career management.
Mentee: A mentee is someone guided and supported by a more experienced individual in their field, aiming to foster continuous personal development and realize their full potential.
Mentor: A mentor is a specialist and experienced individual who shares skills, expertise, and knowledge with a less experienced person, with the goal of fostering the latter’s career and personal development.
THE ROLES OF MENTORS/COACHES
The roles and responsibilities of mentors/coaches encompass:
- Developing mentorship/coaching plans with mentees based on identified needs.
- Scheduling mentorship/coaching meetings.
- Providing support to clarify performance goals and development needs.
- Mentoring, guiding, and counseling mentees.
- Assisting mentees in achieving set goals and providing necessary feedback.
- Inspiring mentees to take initiative and be creative.
- Acting as role models by transferring desirable values and actions.
- Facilitating the development of managerial and technical skills.
- Participating in group interactions to share ideas and innovations.
- Maintaining confidentiality.
THE ROLES OF MENTEES
During the mentorship and coaching process, mentees are expected to:
- Identify areas for improvement.
- Take responsibility for their own development.
- Clearly define mentorship/coaching goals.
- Initiate contact with mentors.
- Listen, learn, and ask for feedback.
- Prepare for meetings and be punctual.
On successful completion of the program,
BENEFITS AND INCENTIVES FOR MENTORSHIP PROGRAMME
- Both mentor and mentee receive a certificate of completion.
- TPD points are earned as per the policy framework.
- Completion certificates are considered advantageous for promotions, appointments, or recognition rewards.
REQUIREMENT TO BE MENTOR OR COACH
Qualifications for enlisting into the program as a mentor/coach include:
- Professional expertise in a specific area.
- Good conduct and integrity.
- Willingness to volunteer.
- Respect and professional repute.
- Innovation.
Parameters such as gender, disability status, and religion are considered during selection.
IDENTIFICATION OF MENTORS
Mentors may be selected from various roles within an institution, including senior teachers, peer teachers, team leaders, subject heads, school administrators, and specialists.
IDENTIFICATION OF MENTEES
Eligible mentees include newly recruited teachers, those newly appointed to administrative positions, teachers facing performance challenges, those engaging in professional development, and those selected for mentor development.
DURATION OF MENTORSHIP PROGRAMME
Mentorship lasts for at least one year, with the possibility of extending beyond based on performance and needs.
DISPUTE RESOLUTION
Disputes between mentors and mentees are resolved through disciplinary action or grievances according to established procedures.
EFFECTIVENESS OF THE POLICY
The program aims to support newly recruited teachers, teachers in service, and newly appointed administrators, providing guidance and support.
OBJECTIVES OF MENTORSHIP AND COACHING
The program aims to:
- Build teacher competencies and knowledge.
- Induct newly recruited teachers and develop school administrators.
- Support teachers experiencing challenges.
- Ensure compliance with professional standards and ethics.
- Improve curriculum implementation and create a conducive learning environment.
- Empower learners through mentorship and guidance.
Mentors and mentees work together to identify performance gaps and develop intervention plans, while heads of institutions ensure program institutionalization and support mentorship activities.
TSC Mentorship Programme: All you Should Know
