Teachers allegedly refused to go back to work since there weren’t enough transfers.
Hundreds of teachers from places outside of Kenya’s Arid and Semi-Arid Land districts have bravely refused to report to their designated schools in a remarkable demonstration of resiliency and resolve.
This selfless deed has continued for two weeks into the third academic year, drawing attention to the urgent problem of teacher transfers within the Kenyan educational system.
At the headquarters of the Teachers Service Commission (TSC), about 300 teachers have built a temporary camp.
They have a very specific and important demand: they won’t go back to the areas they were assigned to until their transfer petitions have been granted.
Peter Kamoen from Mandera is one such instructor who best captures the annoyance felt by his coworkers.
He describes how they worked hard for two weeks to have a meeting with TSC director Dr. Nancy Macharia. The commission, however, has insisted time and time again that they go back to their classrooms.
The professors’ unwavering position is justified. Their desire for transfers has been motivated by major difficulties in the regions they have been allocated, such as insecurity and inadequate road systems.
Another teacher, Charles Achol, notes that these challenges make their current assignments untenable because of high travel expenses that surpass their monthly income. Furthermore, the temporary lodgings they must put up with when they start their new jobs are far from ideal.
Their personal and professional life are both affected negatively by this severe scenario. Achol emphasizes that these circumstances make it difficult for teachers to visit their homes over the summer, further escalating the emotional toll of their situation.
Dick Maungu, a Luanda MP, brought up the crucial issue of the teachers’ safety during a meeting with TSC CEO Dr. Nancy Macharia and questioned how traumatized teachers could instruct children in such circumstances.
The lengthy transfer application process worries Haro Abdul, an MP for Mandera South, who worries that it may have a negative effect on the caliber of education for kids.
The TSC was chastised by Rebecca Tonkei, a Narok MP, for keeping teachers on staff despite their requests to move.
Dr. Macharia outlined the several factors that affect teacher transfers, such as the need for replacements, job availability, personnel policies, and medical concerns. She stressed the commission’s dedication to ensuring an equitable teacher distribution in order to efficiently deliver high-quality education.
Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki discussed the difficulties faced by non-local teachers, including the need for them to reside in temporary housing or police stations for their protection, in a separate discussion with the Education Committee of the National Assembly. Kindiki assured that these educators had been transferred to locations with lower hazard levels.
Julius Melly, a member of parliament, voiced worry about the psychological effects on instructors who had gone through trauma and stigma after losing colleagues. He emphasized the necessity of safety and support for these educators.
Kindiki advised that the government provide grants for local students to enroll in teaching programs and asked the TSC to speed up the transfer of non-local instructors after a brief period.
In conclusion, the protracted impasse between the TSC and the teachers highlights the urgent need for a thorough assessment of teacher transfers and deployment in Kenya.
The teachers’ requests for safer and more environmentally friendly working conditions are in line with the overarching objective of giving all pupils a top-notch education. All parties involved in this effort, including governing bodies and politicians, must continue to address these issues and place a high priority on the welfare of educators and students.
DOWNLOAD K.C.S.E MOCKS QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
K.C.S.E PAST PAPERS 1998-2022 QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
JOIN US ON TELEGRAM TEACHERS FORUM