- Some teachers shortlisted for TSC promotions have failed to attend their scheduled interview sessions.
- Panelists in several regions have encountered candidates citing illness, distance, costs and personal circumstances.
- The incidents come as thousands of teachers compete for more than 34,000 available promotion vacancies.
Panelists conducting the ongoing Teachers Service Commission (TSC) promotion interviews have raised concerns over a number of teachers who have failed to appear for their scheduled sessions.
The promotion interviews began on September 8, with thousands of teachers seeking consideration for various promotional positions.
TSC’s interview roadmap shows that primary school teachers were scheduled for interviews from September 8 to 15, while post-primary teachers and Curriculum Support Officers were due to appear between September 17 and 25. The exercise covers more than 34,000 promotion vacancies.
However, according to information gathered by Education News from the South Rift, Nyanza and Western regions, some shortlisted candidates have been absent from their scheduled interviews, leaving panelists concerned.
When contacted, some teachers who missed their interviews cited pressing personal matters, saying they had been unable to attend because of other urgent commitments.
Others said they were unwell and therefore could not make it to their respective interview centres.
For some teachers who had recently been transferred, the long distances involved in travelling to designated interview venues presented another challenge.
Some told Education News that they could not raise the fare required to travel to the interview centres.
Security concerns were also cited by some teachers, particularly those working in parts of Northern Kenya considered insecure. According to the affected teachers, travelling to some interview venues was difficult or risky.
What appeared to surprise some panelists most, however, were cases in which candidates reportedly reached the interview venues but disappeared before appearing before the panels.
In some instances, teachers are said to have arrived at the interview centres but failed to present themselves when their names were called.
Other candidates were reportedly unreachable on their phones, with some becoming reachable only after several days.
Questions over missed opportunities
The incidents have raised questions about the challenges teachers face in attending promotion interviews and whether all shortlisted candidates fully appreciate the importance of appearing before the panels.
The cases reported to Education News were gathered from South Rift, Nyanza and Western regions as the TSC promotion exercise continues across the country.
Competition for promotion remains intense.
TSC advertised 34,016 promotion vacancies across several cadres, while more than 70,000 teachers were reportedly shortlisted for interviews.
The Commission has also indicated that candidates are expected to carry original academic and professional certificates, TPAD records and other required documents to the interview centres.
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The interviews are being closely followed by thousands of teachers hoping to progress to higher job grades and take advantage of available promotion opportunities within the teaching service.
By Mark Otieno Jonyo
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