Kenya Secondary Schools Heads Association (KESSHA) teachers have criticised the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) for allegedly transferring several teachers from Turkana County to neighbouring Baringo County without replacing them.

Addressing the press on Saturday, February 8, KESSHA Secretary Michael Ejikon accused TSC of allegedly transferring more than 47 teachers from various schools in Turkana County without replacement.

According to him, the Commission knowingly breached the law by apparently denying the children from the marginalised communities education, which falls under the government's mandates.

Ejikon’s sentiments were echoed by the Kenya Union of Post Primary School Teachers (KUPPET) representative in Turkana, Areman Simon, who faulted TSC for undermining education in the Northern county.

A teacher and students during a learning lesson in Kenya.

Photo

UNICEF

Areman highlighted one instance where the Commission reportedly transferred nearly all the teachers from one school without any replacement, thus crippling learning activities in the said institution.

While emphasising the matter, Areman revealed that despite the decision by several teachers to turn down the transfer letters, the Commission allegedly moved them forcefully.

“You cannot transfer five teachers from one station; that is a disservice to the learners of Turkana County. Who will teach them once you transfer the five teachers?" Areman questioned.

He added, “You cannot transfer a teacher who has not requested the transfer, and we have an example in a nearby high school where a teacher has been transferred despite declining the decision.”

It is not the first time education stakeholders have lamented over the shortage of teachers in most secondary schools; the challenge has kept on persisting despite the government's initial promise to hire an additional 20,000 teachers in January this year.

The shortage of staff in most schools across the country has resulted in overcrowding of students in classrooms, overstretched teaching hours, and a lack of specialists in some of the subjects.

In October last year, TSC Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Nacy Macharia revealed that despite having over 400,000 unemployed teachers in the country, the Commission struggled to find science teachers.

She noted that most schools in the country were not adequately staffed with science teachers, thus undermining the whole recruitment process.

A photo of the Teachers Service Commission, Chairperson Nancy Macharia addressing journalists on February 23

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TSC