School heads from Kisumu County have made far-reaching recommendations that they believe will enable its members to make career progression without hitches.
Led by Kenya Secondary School Heads Association (KESSHA) Kisumu chapter Chairperson George O. Nyangwe, the heads called for the abolition of Scales C4 and C5 and the introduction of Scale 16 (D6) so that a teacher is able to move from C3 to D1.
Presenting views on behalf of members when Teachers Service Commission (TSC) Chairperson Dr. Jamleck Muturi met stakeholders at St. Teresa Girls Secondary School in Kisumu, Nyangwe said that a teacher at D1 should be considered for deployment to serve in an administrative position as Senior Master, Deputy Principal or Principal.
“This will cure the danger of lacking people to take up school administration positions yet we have qualified, able, and willing administrators rotting at C3 and very few at C4,” he said.
On the promotion of teachers, Nyangwe said that TSC should stop attaching C4 (proposed D1 to D6) without necessarily taking up administrative positions and also let classroom teachers rise the career ladder from C1 to D6 without necessarily taking up the said positions.
Nyangwe said that the Commission should stop attaching the promotion of principals to D4, and D5 and proposed D6 to the category of school where one is posted.
He further suggested that a Principal in a sub-county school should have an equal chance with his national and extra-county school counterparts to rise to Chief Principal.
To address serious stagnation at C3 and D3, Nyangwe said that TSC should introduce a Scale for post-graduate teachers in order to motivate teachers to go back to school.
The KESSHA boss said that it was unfair to allow someone to act as either a Deputy Principal or Principal for more than 6 months and fail to confirm them and again retain them in the same station at a lower position after posting a substantive officer.
“We recommend that anyone in acting capacity should take the responsibility of the position as well as the benefits accruing to that position including allowances and salary for the entire acting period,” he said.
The Chairman also said that teachers employed and posted as interns should not be subjected to another interview and they should instead be confirmed for permanent and pensionable recruitment.
He indicated that when it comes to the employment of permanent teachers at both JSS and senior secondary schools, TSC should prioritize Junior Secondary School (JSS) intern teachers.
Regarding discipline, Nyangwe said that TSC should expedite the process and ensure that no case takes more than six months, unless in serious and grave cases where he recommended that investigations be conducted thoroughly to ensure no one is dismissed on framed charges.
He further urged the Commission to consider giving one more chance to all teachers who were dismissed from service over alcoholism.
Nyangwe asked the Commission to look into the challenge of transfers disappearing from the TSC online portal.
He also called upon AON Minet to improve its services saying that approvals take too long.
Also present at the forum was; KUPPET Kisumu Executive Secretary Zablon Awange, KNUT Kisumu West Executive Secretary Gordon Olando, his Kisumu City counterpart George Obwon and Kisumu School Principal Duncan Owiyo among others.
By Fredrick Odiero
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