By Roy Hezron
Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) Vihiga branch Executive Secretary Sabala Inyeni has raised concern over the recently concluded recruitment process that disadvantaged intern teachers.
Speaking to Education News, Inyeni complained that the sudden change in the recruitment guidelines has disadvantaged intern teachers and angered most applicants.
“These guidelines have made it difficult for an intern to get direct employment. We are appealing to Teachers Service Commission (TSC) to revert to the system they have been using where an intern had an outright advantage in the recruitment process,” said Sabala.
Inyeni also poured cold water on the plan by TSC to develop a bank of unemployed graduates noting that it will open doors for corrupt cartels to swindle money from teachers.
“We are also informed that the Commission intends to set up a data bank which they will use to post new teachers. This is a sure way of opening the hiring process to corruption cartels at TSC,” he added.
A total of 356,000 teachers are said to have applied for 14,000 teaching vacancies that were advertised by TSC last month, with only top five candidates for each advertised position being shortlisted.
Inyeni also complained about the failure by the Ministry of Education to release funds to support games and sporting activities expected to start this weekend.
“The Ministry has released the circular, but with no funds. Where are Principals of schools supposed to get money for these activities? We expect the government to take Co-curricular activities more seriously, especially now that we are shifting to CBC, a system that really gives a lot of attention to talent development,” said Sabala.
