The Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) has asked the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) to respect teachers’ right of expression and wellbeing to enable them to effectively discharge their mandate and fully realize the objectives of the education sector.
Speaking at Keiyan in Transmara West, Kilgoris sub-county, KNUT Secretary General Collins Oyuu expressed disgust at the sidelining of teachers in moderation of policies governing the country’s education, citing the latest proposal by the Commission to make amendments to the TSC Act.
“We are the main stakeholders of education in this country but TSC is treating us like we don’t matter, and they drag us to blindly accept unconstitutional declarations that will greatly affect our teachers,” he said.
Oyuu, who was flanked by the Union’s first Vice Chairman Joseph Malel Lang’at, first Woman Representative Mercy Ndung’u and other top National Executive Council officials, said that the proposed TSC (Amendment) Bill was unconstitutional, punitive and teachers will not let it see the light of day.
He called on TSC to employ a professional approach instead of leading them blindly and expect them to be midwives in the effective delivery of education to learners.
Oyuu thanked the government for employing 56,000 teachers last year and the expected 24,000 this year, saying that this is a clear indication that the current regime is mindful of ensuring all teachers secure a job.
He called for the employment of more teachers to serve the growing number of children in schools countrywide.
Later during the thanksgiving ceremony for the recovery of Rift Valley Region KNUT Chairman John Musele after a long illness, members vowed to remain their brother’s keeper at all times.
The function was attended by 13 Union branches from Rift Valley including Kericho, Bureti, Nandi, Koibatek and Marakwet.
The function was also attended by the Principal Secretary (PS) in the Ministry of Tourism and Wildlife John Ololtua, Manga Sub County Director of Education Samson Subei, community elders led by area Chief and Pastor Jackson Ortum.
The PS thanked the teachers for standing with their own during their time of need.
Olooltua lauded KNUT Trans Mara branch Executive Secretary Willy Korir for keeping teachers together in accomplishing great achievements in their welfare and their families.
He promised to work with teachers and schools to find ways of strengthening Wildlife clubs in their institutions as a means of supporting tourism in the country.
By Enock Okong’o
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