By Education News Team
The cash-strapped teachers’ unions and Head teachers’ associations would soon hold snap elections after some of their branch officials were transferred to different counties under the contentious Delocalization Programme.
Some of the Head teachers, Principals, their deputies, Senior teachers, Senior Masters and Mistresses form the core of KNUT and KUPPET executive at the branch level, and are likely to be transferred under the Decentralization Programme, hence creating vacant positions in the union leadership.
Also to be seriously affected by Delocalization Programme are branch officials of Kenya Secondary School Heads Association (KESSHA) and Kenya Primary School Heads Association (KEPSHA).
Their respective constitutions call for them (teachers) to relinquish their posts once they cease to be members of the branch upon being transferred outside their branch (county).
Talking to the Deputy Secretary-General of KUPPET, Moses Nthurima said Delocalization Programme is such a contentious matter that the post-primary teachers’ union has been forced to initiate dialogue with Teachers Service Commission (TSC) with a view of sparing Principals, Deputy Principals, Senior Masters and Mistresses from being transferred outside their branches.
“We know the Delocalization Programme will eventually cascade to Classroom Teacher, meaning that everyone in the Teaching Service would be affected at one point or another. What we’re pushing for is TSC not to transfer elected officials of KUPPET as it’s likely to disrupt the smooth operation of the union,” said Nthurima.
The KUPPET top official said the hurriedly implemented Delocalization Programme is a tricky exercise considering the number of Heads of institutions that are affected, who at the same time serve as branch unions, KEPSHA and KESSHA officials.
Without disclosing the exact number of their members that have been affected by the Delocalization Programme, Nthurima said it’s a touchy issue that requires extreme caution by TSC; failure to which it could disrupt KUPPET programmes.
The official was, however, optimistic that the Commission would spare KUPPET branch officials, and where they have already been transferred, the move would be rescinded.
“We are in talks with TSC to consider our request not transfer our branch officials. We hope the Commission would act promptly to our request, failure to which, fresh elections will have to be held to replace the officers who will have been transferred in line with KUPPET constitution,” said Nthurima.
Some union officials read mischief in the Delocalization Programme, asking why the trade movements were never consulted before it was implemented. They argue that if it meant good for the Kenyan teacher, why was there no public participation in framing the programme.
KNUT Secretary-General, Wilson Sossion has cautioned TSC against implementing the programme to allow consultations at all levels of the Teaching Service.
Sossion argues that the policy on mass transfer of head of institutions who have served in the same station for long was not negotiated and agreed upon in public participation as required in the Constitution (2010).
According to KNUT boss, some of those who have been transferred are union officials, and members of KESSHA and KEPSHA, while some are about to exit the Teaching Service due to age factor.
“We strongly feel the Delocalization Programme is targeting to weaken the unions, and Head teachers’ associations. If a union official is transferred, he or she automatically loses his or her seat at that level, and this disrupts the smooth running of the union as we will continue having bi-elections all-year-round affecting the programmes of the trade movement, even service delivery in schools. We must have dialogue with TSC over this issue,” said Sossion who has since been supported by union branches, KEPSHA and KESSHA officials.
The KNUT Secretary-General observed that Delocalization Programme is in total violation of UN and International Labour Organization statues which condemn arbitrary transfer of tutors without following due process.
“UNESCO, ILO, World Bank and Education International (EI) call on the teachers’ employer to put in place measures that permit teachers with family responsibilities to obtain teaching posts in the locality of their homes, and enable married couples both of whom are teachers to teach in the same general neighbourhood or in the same school,” said Sossion in a letter to TSC Secretary/Chief Executive, Nancy Macharia which was copied to the Cabinet Secretary – Education, Dr. Amina Mohamed, and her counterpart in Labour, Akur Yatani.
