TSC warns school heads against weaponizing teachers’ deployment as staff balancing set to begin

The Teachers Service Commission, (TSC) has warned Head teachers in west Pokot County against weaponising teachers’ deployment as staff balancing set to begin this February.

Speaking in Nasokol Comprehensive School Hall yesterday, TSC Deputy Director Paul Kamas said that headteachers should not weaponise teachers through inhumane deployment, transfers as the balancing of staff being carried out.

“A number of teachers in Kapenguria have health challenges, and some have been advised by doctors to remain close to health facilities. In short, balancing must consider medical realities. Deployment must not become punishment. Transfers must not become suffering. A school system that forgets humanity becomes a machine that breaks people. And once teachers break, classrooms break too.” He said

Kamas also urged school heads conduct staff meetings and prepare professional documents before schools open adding that no headteacher should wait for learners to arrive before planning begins.

“Professional documents are not paperwork for inspection. They are proof that teaching is intentional. They are the map that guides instruction. They are the evidence that learning is planned, monitored, and delivered with seriousness. A school that opens without professional documents opens without a spine. And when the spine is missing, everything collapses—schemes, lesson plans, records of work, learner progress tracking, remedial planning, and even staff accountability.” He told teachers

He urged heads to learn the best ways to handle teachers, especially JSS teachers, whose placement and working conditions continue to create tension in some institutions, saying that their guide and impact is crucial for the success of CBE.

He also reminded headteachers that leadership today is not about being the loudest voice in the staffroom, but rather being the most strategic mind in the school, managing people with wisdom, balancing authority with emotional intelligence, and resolving issues before they explode into crises that end up in offices, WhatsApp groups, unions, or even courts.

Kamas also warned teachers against betting, saying that some have lost money, sunk into distress, and even attempted suicide.

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“Betting is no longer entertainment for some—it is addiction, debt, shame, and mental collapse. It destroys salaries. It destroys families. It destroys focus. It turns professionals into desperate gamblers chasing losses that never end. And when a teacher collapses emotionally, learners lose stability. The classroom becomes unpredictable. The school becomes unstable. A teacher cannot mentor learners while drowning in personal crisis.” He said

He warned teachers against rampant absenteeism, which he said has forced TSC to stop salaries for a number of teachers. “Absenteeism is not a small offence. It is a direct betrayal of learners. It is a breach of trust. It is a professional collapse. And in a system under pressure, it becomes a serious wound.” He said

Amos Kibet, the Sub-County Director of Education also urged schools to provide accurate data, saying that wrong figures lead to wrong planning which eventually punishes learners.

“Accurate data is not a formality—it is the foundation of resource allocation and effective management. A school that manipulates numbers sabotages itself and misleads the system. And when the system is misled, the innocent suffer first—learners.” He said

He said that West Pokot is pushing for 100% transition across the board, urging the school heads to treat transition as a duty, not a slogan.

“Transition is achieved through tracking, counselling, parent engagement, and deliberate support for vulnerable learners. It does not happen by accident. It happens when schools refuse to let learners disappear quietly. It happens when headteachers know their learners by name, by home situation, and by risk factors. It happens when institutions act early, not late.” He said

County Quality Assurance Officer Philemon Rop talking in the same event reminded headteachers that schools must not only teach—they must operate legally and cleanly.

He directed heads to ensure their institutions have valid registration certificates and title deeds, a governance requirement that protects schools from disputes, closures, and legitimacy crises.

“A headteacher who ignores documentation is not just careless—they are exposing the entire institution to unnecessary risk. When a school’s legality is questioned, learners suffer first. Teachers suffer next. The community loses trust. And the institution’s reputation collapses.” He said

Thomas Ombati (CSO) also reminded headteachers that discipline must go hand in hand with lawful systems and safety. Schools were urged to follow procurement laws and strengthen preparedness by purchasing safety essentials such as fire extinguishers.

“Safety is not for inspection day. Safety is daily responsibility. One incident is enough to destroy years of work. One fire outbreak, one avoidable accident, one poorly managed emergency can wipe out trust, destroy property, and even cost lives.” He said

By Hillary Muhalya