Over 200 Delocalized Teachers Protest Outside TSC’s Offices, Demand Transfers
Over 200 teachers from West Pokot working in Trans Nzoia County marched to the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) offices in Kitale to demand transfers.
The teachers were led by John Kimtai, a teacher at Cheptandan Primary School, who claimed that the delocalization program had caused family break-ups and was causing the teachers a great deal of suffering.
The teachers claimed that TSC was refusing to effect their transfers despite the government having scrapped the delocalization program.
The teachers also accused TSC of ignoring their disabilities and denying them the opportunity to benefit from hardship allowances.
Some of the teachers argued that they wanted to go back home to take care of their elderly parents and property.
Some even claimed that they have lost their investments because of the transfer.
The teachers claimed that delocalization has fuelled family separation and moving them back home would help fix the problem.
“Since I was transferred to Trans Nzoia County, all is not well in my family. My husband suspects I am unfaithful to him, and we are asking TSC to move us back to save our marriages,” said Eve Lokosoywan, a teacher who was part of the protest.
The teachers also claimed that two of their colleagues had died out of frustration due to the stress and depression caused by working in an unfriendly environment.
“We are suffering. We are stressed and depressed. We don’t want to die because of working in an unfriendly environment,” one of the teachers said.
The protesting teachers were turned away by officials who insisted that they should go back to their working stations.
However, the teachers vowed to camp outside TSC offices until their issues were addressed.
“We are going to camp here until we get transfer letters from TSC,” said one of the protesting teachers.
Efforts by The Standard to get a comment from TSC county director Ali Jamal were unsuccessful, as he failed to answer calls and SMS.
The teachers’ protest highlights the need for a solution to the issues faced by teachers who have been transferred from their home counties and the impact it has on their families and their lives.
The Teachers Service Commission should take these concerns seriously and work towards finding a solution for the teachers.
Over 200 Delocalized Teachers Protest Outside TSC’s Offices, Demand Transfers