Bold and unbowed teachers attending the ongoing promotional interviews have decided to express their displeasure with the employer, the Teachers Service Commission (TSC), openly over what they term as yearly invitations to promotional interviews that leave them feeling disheartened.
The teachers who spoke to Education News after attending the ongoing age-inclusive promotions said the annual exercise has always left them with lasting impressions.
“I have been attending these promotions since 2020 in my quest to become a deputy headteacher, but I have been missing out yet, like my already promoted colleagues, I possess all the qualifications,” quipped One John, a teacher in one of the schools in Kericho county.
The same complaint was raised by Madam Adeline One in the neighbouring Kisumu County, who stated that she has only eight months to reach the compulsory retirement age but is still in job group C1.
In Vihiga and Trans Nzoia counties, teachers pleaded with TSC to revert to the schemes of service. They stated that Career Progression Guidelines have caused untold professional pain to teachers, especially those in their late 40s and 50s.
“It reached a point where higher qualifications were used as a route to advancement, leaving most of us who were burdened and could not afford to return to class. We continued producing good results, but the employer left us for those who had furthered their studies”, lamented Mr Namaswa, one of the teachers, hoping to be considered after attending the exercise at Saboti subcounty.
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In Nakuru, the teachers who attended the interviews adverts 31, 32, and 33 lamented that they had only been asked to produce evidence to prove that they had acted as headteachers and not in any other administrative position, as was the case in the previous interviews.
“The panellist asked most of us whether we had acted as headteachers, but refused to act as either senior or deputy headteachers. This will deny us opportunities to be promoted, ” pointed out One Kung’u from Nakuru County.
The second day of the ongoing interviews primarily targeted teachers who applied for adverts 31, 32, and 33. According to the teachers, the slots are meant for Senior Teachers 1 and 2. A large proportion of primary school teachers are in job group C1, and progression to C2 will be a significant relief for them.
The first phase of the interviews ends on Thursday. The second phase, which will involve secondary school teachers, is scheduled to begin next week at the county level.
Teachers moving to grades D3 up to D5 will attend their interviews at the regional level alongside those aspiring to be promoted to Curriculum Support Officer positions.
By Michael Otieno Jonyo.
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