- Bomet KUPPET official Nicodemus Ngeno wants TSC to address prolonged acting appointments among school administrators.
- He says teachers performing higher administrative duties should have their experience recognised during substantive appointments.
- Ngeno also wants vacant positions filled promptly and eligible teachers paid acting allowances under existing regulations.
Bomet KUPPET Secretary Secondary Nicodemus Ngeno has called on the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) to substantively appoint teachers who have been performing administrative duties in an acting capacity.
Ngeno said teachers serving as acting principals, deputy principals and other school administrators should not be left in acting positions for prolonged periods without a clear pathway to substantive appointment.
He said teachers entrusted with running schools already carry significant responsibilities and should have their experience recognised when administrative positions are filled.
“The teacher is trusted to carry the responsibility and keep the institution running, yet the substantive appointment remains out of reach. There must be a clear and fair pathway from acting to substantive appointment,” Ngeno said.
Ngeno argued that prolonged acting arrangements can affect teachers’ morale, particularly when they perform higher duties without certainty on whether their experience will contribute meaningfully to their career progression.
He said teachers who have successfully performed higher administrative duties should be given an opportunity to compete for substantive positions based on their qualifications, experience and performance.
Ngeno further called for acting service to be formally documented and considered during promotions and appointments, in accordance with applicable TSC regulations and guidelines.
“Responsibility has a cost and time has value. If a teacher carries higher responsibility for a prolonged period, that service should be recognised within the existing framework,” he said.
The KUPPET official also called for the timely filling of vacant administrative positions in public schools, saying institutions require stable leadership to effectively manage teaching, learning and other school programmes.
Call for transparent appointment process
He said the changing structure of secondary education has increased the need for adequate and stable school leadership, warning against making acting appointments a permanent solution to administrative vacancies.
According to Ngeno, TSC should establish a transparent mechanism through which teachers who have served successfully in acting positions can use that experience when seeking substantive appointments.
He further called for proper recognition and payment of acting allowances where teachers qualify under existing regulations.
“Where a substantive vacancy exists, it should be filled. Where a qualified teacher has already demonstrated leadership capacity, that experience should be recognised through a clear and credible appointment process,” Ngeno said.
READ ALSO: Kaimosi Friends University issues new dress code guidelines for students
He urged TSC to review prolonged acting arrangements and ensure that qualified teachers are given opportunities to progress into substantive administrative positions.
By Jeff Kirui
Get more stories from our website: Education News
To write to us or offer feedback, you can reach us at: editor@educationnews.co.ke
You can also follow our social media pages on Twitter: Education News KE and Facebook: Education News Newspaper for timely updates.
>> Click here to stay up-to-date with trending regional stories
