By Hilton Mwabili
Kenya National Union of Teachers (Knut) Mombasa branch officials differed with local TSC director Caroline Mwakisha, on delocalization of teachers and mandatory Teachers Performance and Appraisal Development (TPAD) among other policies guiding the teaching profession.
The officials clashed during the 42nd Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Mafanikio Sacco in Mombasa.
Kilindini Knut executive secretary Dan Oloo was concerned that the policy of delocalisation of teachers is a ploy by TSC to frustrate teachers.
“This idea of delocalization is only meant to deny us peace. It adds no value to the teaching profession”, said Oloo.
He promised to fight the idea to a bitter end. Oloo called upon teachers in Mombasa to stand up against the policy. He termed it as an open injustice and said they will only support delocalisation process if it starts with the TSC officials.
“The director of TSC in Mombasa is herself an indigenous coastal, how then should we be talking about this if TSC itself has some of its staff working at the comfort of their homes,” charged Oloo. Mombasa branch executive secretary Stephene Ouma said “teachers are getting depressed by the pressure of TPAD.”
He noted the performance contracting has virtually converted teachers into secretaries, moving up and down filling sheets of papers, yet it has failed to yield any tangible results.
“TSC must concede that this thing called Tpad is not working. It has failed… instead of teachers concentrating on their class work, they have to move up and down with Tpad, even when they go home they have no peace with their families because of that thing. It is clear that majority of teachers’ deaths are as a result of stress and Tpad is a key contributor… I want to assure you that we will fight it to the last man and it will go,” he warned.
The TSC director dismissed the clamors by KNUT officials and insisted, “Tpad and delocalisation are both here to stay.”
Mwakisha charged that delocalisation is a policy which government holds in high esteem.
