Guidance and Counselling teachers across Kenya have issued a passionate appeal to the Teachers Service Commission (TSC), urging the commission to formally recognize their role in schools and address longstanding concerns over professional neglect.
In an open letter, addressed to the TSC acting CEO Evaleen Mitei, the teachers described themselves as “silent pillars” of the education system, calling for structured promotions, training opportunities, and policy inclusion.
The letter signed by a practicing Guidance and Counselling teacher and accredited counsellor-Alice Songok Tenai outlines the critical role these professionals play in supporting students’ mental health, academic performance, and emotional well-being. It highlights how counselling teachers often serve as first responders to trauma, bullying, depression, and family-related stress yet remain sidelined in staffing structures and career progression frameworks.
Despite their growing workload and impact, the teachers say they are rarely considered for leadership roles or specialized training, and their contributions are often invisible in official school evaluations.
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Songok notes that many counselling teachers operate without designated offices, budgets, or recognition in school timetables, even as they handle sensitive cases that directly affect learning outcomes.
The letter calls on the TSC to urgently review its policies and create a clear pathway for the advancement of Guidance and Counselling professionals. It also urges the commission to engage with stakeholders to develop a framework that reflects the evolving needs of learners and the psychosocial realities facing schools today.
As mental health challenges among students continue to rise, the teachers argue that ignoring the role of school counsellors undermines the broader goals of education and child protection. The letter ends with a plea for the TSC to act decisively and restore dignity to a profession that has long operated in the shadows.
By Masaki Enock
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