By Charles Ojiambo
The government through Teachers Service Commission (TSC) will carry out interviews for teachers who have been acting as heads of schools for a long time with an aim of confirming them.
TSC Western Regional Director, Ms. Lilian Mwangi, has disclosed that the exercise will start from Monday, March 20, urging all the affected teachers to come out and participate in the interviews.
“We have very many acting head teachers in this region as well as rest of the county and as a commission; we are going to conduct interviews so that we confirm them. I want to appreciate the good work you have been doing and we encourage you to continue that way,” she said.
Speaking during the official opening of Western Region KEPSHA three-day workshop at a Busia hotel, the director also gave assurance that schools will get Junior Secondary Schools (JSS) books together with additional teachers required.
She however urged head teachers to delegate duties and work closely with other teachers in schools as a way of dealing with stress related to their work, “We have noted with concerns increasing cases of health issues among our teachers and most of them are due to overworking and stress originating from the nature of their work. We advise that you find ways of dealing with the stress including delegating some duties to your colleague teachers instead of amassing all the work on yourself,” she advised.
On his side, the newly posted Western Region Director of Education, Mr. Jared Obiero, has said the government will release capitation money for Junior Secondary Schools before learning resumes after midterm break.
“We admit there have been some delays in disbursement of the funds to schools but I want to assure that funds will soon be in your schools so that you smoothly run the schools. Required textbooks will also be sent to the schools and therefore you should not panic.”
The announcement by TSC and Education Directors on promotion of teachers and disbursement of funds to schools was hailed by the heads led by Western region KEPSHA chairperson Andrew Tobias Omusale appreciated them and said that it was long overdue for teachers and school to receive such news.
“We appreciate the government for hearing our cries especially on delayed capitation funds which has really affected running of our schools. Also promotion of teachers who have been acting as head teachers is also another move that will really boost the morale of our teachers.”
Omusale also chided those doubting the ability by primary school heads to run Junior Secondary Schools.
“Primary school heads have been with these children since ECD and we understand them better. Even when you look at the infrastructure in our primary schools they are sufficient to facilitate the Junior Secondary School learning although with some improvements.”
