47,000 Delocalized Teachers Stranded as Governors Petitions TSC
The Council of Governors (CoG) is drafting a petition to have the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) permit teachers to be deployed to their preferred working stations in their home counties, as opposed to the current policy of assigning teachers based on the country’s requirements.
On Saturday, during the Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) Annual General Meeting (AGM) Kakamega Branch, the county’s governor, Fernandes Barasa, characterized the situation as an imperative one, identifying with the 47,000 stranded teachers.
The governor explained that he is collaborating with the education committee of the Council of Governors to deliver a memorandum to TSC regarding the concerns.
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He mentioned that they had teachers serving in other counties, and he expressed their intention to address this matter with their education committee.
Their goal was to facilitate the return of delocalized teachers to their respective home counties.
He emphasized the importance of having teachers from their region for improved interaction. He assured that they would push their education committee to send a memorandum to the TSC to formalize this request.
“This is a petition for which I will urge my education committee to forward the memo to TSC.”
In 2017, the commission implemented the delocalization policy, much to the chagrin of teachers and lawmakers who argued that it was counterproductive.
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Since then, at least 14,000 educators have been forcibly transferred from their native counties.
Members of parliament lobbied for a reversal by January 31, 2023, which led to the policy’s suspension in November 2022. Since then, approximately 47,000 instructors have requested transfers to their home counties.
While instituting the policy, TSC argued that it would assist in addressing the teacher shortage in certain regions, such as Northern Kenya and conflict-ridden regions.
The commission elaborated that transfers are contingent on vacancies and a teacher’s willingness to fill them.
However, the teachers highlight that the policy harms families by separating breadwinners during delocalization to remote areas.
During the event, a KNUT assured teachers that the union is collaborating with TSC to ensure a pay increase.
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47,000 Delocalized Teachers Stranded as Governors Petitions TSC
