By Osborne Ben
Teachers in Trans-Nzoia County are up in arms against the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) for introducing the Teacher Professional Development (TPD) saying the refresher module system makes them appear unskilled.
They therefore demand an apology following the introduction of a new normal.
Led by the teachers Kenya Union of Post Priamary Education Teachers (KUPPET) leaders, they said it was so demeaning to make them appear like they were casually trained yet all professionals go through their hands.
“Teachers churn out professionals in the country. We should not be subjected to the periodic refresher training system that makes us appear like quacks. We oppose this system,” said Trans Nzoia KUPPET chairman Eliud Wafula.
The union secretary Lusweti Furaha called on Kenyans of goodwill to join teachers in opposing the new changes saying they are a threat to strides made by teachers in liberalizing the working environment in the country.
“You cannot subject teachers to this forced training and not cater for the costs yet there are trainings that they have undertaken out of their will but the commission does not recognize them,” said Mr. Lusweti.
More so having the programme carried out during the holidays will interfere with plans of teachers to spend time and bond with their families which will probably lead to fracas in several families,” said Mrs. Immaculate Cheserem who is in charge of gender.
They said they will not undertake TPD unless TSC takes full responsibility and foot the bill involved as well as give the program a monetary value for teachers upon completion of every module of the training.
The union treasurer Maxwell Nyangeri said the commission should subject the new training system to new teachers and exempt the ones who are already in the system since some are nearing retirement.
