The Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) has called for the appointment of an individual with a teaching background to head the Teachers Service Commission (TSC).
Bomet KNUT Executive Secretary Desmond Langat said the move would help bridge the gap between the commission and teachers, which he claims has widened over the years due to a lack of representation at the helm.
“Other commissions are headed by professionals drawn from their respective fields. It is only fair that the TSC be led by someone who understands the challenges teachers face daily,” said Langat.
Speaking in Mulot, he added that having a teacher in charge would help improve communication, policy-making, and overall relations between educators and the commission.
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On matters of employment, he urged the TSC to consider the age of applicants during recruitment, noting that some trained teachers are nearing retirement without ever securing formal employment.
“In Bomet alone, we have more than 80 teachers who graduated in 2018 and are still unemployed. This is disheartening,” he said.
The union also voiced opposition to proposed plans to abolish hardship allowances. Instead, it wants additional areas — including Chepalungu, Sotik, Kipreres, and Chepchabas — officially classified as hardship zones, citing the harsh conditions teachers endure in those regions.
Langat said that teachers working in the mentioned areas face numerous challenges, ranging from poor infrastructure to insecurity and a lack of basic amenities.
This push by KNUT comes as Nancy Macharia’s term as TSC CEO comes to an end later this month, after serving since 2015.
By Kimutai Langat
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