By Roy Hezron
A number of teachers in Nairobi notably from big schools are working under fear and the ‘mercy of someone’ after some of them received unexplained transfers.
About 30 teachers who have been affected by the move complained that the transfers aren’t clearly explained to them and that in most cases, they receive the transfer letters and aren’t given time to hand over.
“I believe I should be given a chance to choose a school where am comfortable. Am in darkness…the school have been transferred to has a lot of indiscipline cases. What if they plan something and plant it on me?” complained one of the affected teachers who sought anonymity for fear further victimization.
The teacher added that living under the mercy of someone is a great disturbance to their family.
Some of the teachers complained of high transport costs and traffic jam in the city which makes it hard for them to move to and from their working stations.
They expressed concern that nobody is ready to listen to them since the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) sub-county directors are very rude especially to classroom teachers.
According to the teachers, they can only air out their grievances to the school head teachers whom they suspect might be the cause of the problem.
‘The head teacher even told us that they only need to make a call then we are transferred,’ stated another teacher who sought anonymity.
When Education News reached the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) Nairobi Regional Office headed by Jane Njagi for a comment, she referred us to the Commission’s Head of Corporate Communication if it is affecting many teachers.
She added that her office is always open for all teachers and that they can discuss their issues with her and reach a solution.
Efforts to reach the Commission’s Head of Corporate Communication Catherine Lenaishori failed since neither our calls nor Short Messages sent to her were replied to by the time of going to press.
Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) Nairobi Branch Executive Secretary Macharia Mugwe said he will make a follow up over the same with the relevant offices.
Speaking during the release of a survey report on teacher preparedness on July 26, 2021, TSC Chief Executive Officer Dr. Nancy Macharia said the commission had put on hold all transfers due to the Covid-19 situation in the country and that only transfers forced by natural attrition or other factors will be effected.
