Training Needs for Teachers' Advisory Centres' (TACS) Tutors in Kiambu East District, Kenya.
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to determine the training needs for TAC tutors in
Kiambu East district. The study adopted a descriptive survey design to investigate the
knowledge and skills that TAC tutors possessed and that which they required for
effective performance of their roles. Six of the nine centres in Kiambu East district
were used for the study. The target population consisted of six TAC tutors, one
thousand, one hundred and nineteen (1119) primary school teachers and five
Education Officers. Both the TAC tutors and Education Officers were purposively
sampled while the primary school teachers were randomly sampled. Data was
collected using three research tools namely questionnaires, interview schedules and
checklists. To determine their reliability, the questionnaires were piloted using one
TAC tutor and seven primary school teachers. The questionnaires were administered
to the TAC tutors and primary school teachers by the researcher. Data was collected,
coded and analyzed. Data was then quantified using descriptive statistics such as
frequencies and percentages .The findings were presented in tables and graphs. The
results were organized as per the research objectives. According to the fmdings, the
TAC tutors were being appointed on merit .They had also acquired some knowledge,
skills and attitudes that enabled them perform their duties. However, they required
more competencies to enable them discharge their roles effectively. It also emerged
that the TAC tutors encountered various challenges in the course of performing their
duties. The main recommendations, therefore, were that after appointment the TAC
tutors should be given special training to make them conversant with their new roles.
They would also require regular in-service courses to keep them abreast with changes
in the curriculum and emerging issues. The researcher also suggested that those
appointed to positions of TAC tutors be holders of at least Bachelor <of Education
degree.