The Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) Trans Mara branch has protested the ongoing transfer of teachers by Teachers Service Commission (TSC) despite withdrawal of delocalization policy in 2021.
Branch Executive Secretary Willy Korir questioned why the Commission continues to carry out the transfers, which he described as illegal and unacceptable.
Speaking in Bomet, he argued the transfers have demoralized teachers, a situation that risks sinking academic standards in the country.
“Transfer of teachers has been stopped. However, we have seen TSC moving teachers out of their home counties. This is unacceptable,” he said.
Korir also lamented that many teachers in the region had not been promoted despite having progressed their studies.
He then protested over understaffing being witnessed in public schools across the county.
“Although the government has hired 46,000 teachers, our schools are still understaffed. As we talk, we are in need of over 100,000 teachers. It the country is to achieve its academic agenda, the hiring of additional teachers must be given priority,” added Korir.
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The union boss at the same time accused county governments of misuse of funds, saying the funds ought to be channeled to the hiring of ECDE teachers on permanent and pensionable terms.
In July 2021 during negotiations of the 2021-2025 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) with teacher unions, the Government agreed to abolish the delocalization programme, with teachers who wish to be considered for transfer from one station to another required to make requests through TSC.
By Kimutai Lang’at
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