Teachers Service Commission (TSC) has thrown the promotional interviews slated for next month into confusion by stripping County Directors (CDs) and Sub-County Directors (SCDs) of their powers to deploy and transfer teachers via SMS.
The shocking move contained in a notice sent via Short Message Service (SMS) through the regional directors (RDs) advises the field directors that these functions can only be carried out by Deputy Director (DD) for staffing at the TSC headquarters.
“Hi CDS, this is to notify u that all deployments to administrative positions have been put on hold until the guidelines are developed. All transfer proposals for both heads and teachers be sent to Director Staffing and a copy to DD (Deputy Director) staffing who will coordinate the exercise,” read the notice seen by Education News.
It further states that guidelines on the deployment and transfer of teachers were being reviewed and will be communicated in due course.
This development has raised a number of questions on the fate of teachers who were awaiting promotion and deployment after successfully passing interviews conducted in August this year.
These key functions of deployment and transfer were hitherto decentralized to counties, with CDs and SCDs being vested with these powers in liaison with the RDs.
With the latest move, the fate of teachers who were hankering for promotion and deployment to various stations is unknown, just as those seeking transfers after applying for change of work stations.
TSC promoted teachers to various administrative positions in August this year and were set to be deployed to new stations after the Commission released the list of over 3,000 successful applicants.
Field officers who spoke to Education News on condition of anonymity questioned why communication on such a serious matter should be done on SMS rather than the official channels such as a circular or an internal memo as is tradition at the commission.
Contacted to clarify on this matter, TSC Head of Operations Gabriel Mathenge said he was unaware of the communication but stated that if such a correspondence was made, then it was just a reminder to the field officers that transfers and deployments do not happen during the exam period.
“I am not aware of the communication yet. But if there is such a communication, then I guess it is to remind the field officers that we don’t transfer teachers over the exam period. But I will check the position and call back. I am currently checking on the progress of KCSE exams in the field,” said Mathenge.
The Commission is also set to conduct promotional interviews to fill 36,053 vacancies that were advertised in August. The fate of this exercise, too, hangs in the balance.
By our reporter
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