The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) has dismissed 33 teachers this year for various violations, including sexual abuse, to enforce stricter teaching guidelines.
The TSC, under the leadership of Chief Executive Officer Dr Nancy Macharia, has announced the revocation of appointments for teachers nationwide and has published their names. Deregistration of these teachers was formalized in Gazette Notice number 9587, which was released on August 2 and seen by Education News.
TSC boss stated that the procedure for blacklisting the tutors as teachers involved a series of disciplinary hearings organized by the commission.
“In exercise of powers conferred by Section 30(2) of the Teachers Service Commission Act, Chapter 212 of the laws of Kenya, the Commission wishes to notify the public that the persons whose names are specified in the Schedule herein below have been removed from the Register of Teachers pursuant to the provision of Section 30(1) (e) of the Teachers Service Commission Act,” read the notice in part.
Deregistration of tutors can result from fraudulent activities, a conviction for a sexual or criminal offense, or a physical or mental illness that impairs their ability to perform their duties.
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According to the TSC’s decision, a teacher’s name can only be reinstated based on the Commission’s directive.
As a result, any tutor who has had their name removed from the register will immediately cease to be a teacher and will no longer be permitted to participate in the teaching profession.
“Further Section 44(b) of the TSC Act provides that a person who falsely or fraudulently holds himself or herself out to be a registered teacher commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding one hundred thousand shillings or imprisonment for a term not exceeding twelve months, or both,” added the notice.
The commission has taken strong action against teachers who violate the profession’s code of conduct, leading to the dismissal of many educators due to incidents of sexual abuse involving students.
Several laws, such as the Children’s Act and the Sexual Offences Act, make it illegal to engage in sexual activity with individuals under 18. In 2010, the TSC introduced guidelines to safeguard children from sexual abuse in schools.
These guidelines prohibit students from visiting teachers’ homes, caution teachers against using promises of academic advancement to coerce students into sexual relationships, and mandate that any incidents of sexual abuse involving a child be reported to the commission within 24 hours.
By Frank Mugwe
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