TSC Powers To Be Reduced Under New Proposal
The Presidential Working Party on Education Reforms, an education taskforce, has made groundbreaking recommendations aimed at controlling the powers of the Teachers Service Commission (TSC).
The recommendations, which have been described as radical, are part of the second interim report, which is expected to be presented to the president.
The report deals with issues such as teachers training, the role of TSC, and the role of middle-level colleges and universities.
The taskforce has been discussing ways to limit the powers of TSC to only recruiting and promoting teachers.
The TSC is a constitutional commission that has the primary role of registering, recruiting, and employing registered teachers.
It also has the power to assign teachers to public schools and institutions, promote and transfer teachers, discipline teachers, and terminate their employment.
However, the taskforce believes that this role gives TSC too much power and influence over teachers, with little or no interference from the ministry.
Last year, a report from the National Assembly Education Committee recommended changes to the TSC Act and Article 237 of the Constitution to address the conflict of interest between TSC being a regulator and an employer.
The report suggested that there is a need to establish a separate regulatory agency to resolve the conflict of interest.
In response, Education Cabinet Secretary Ezekiel Machogu said that he would be seeking recommendations from the Presidential Working Party to make changes to laws, policies, and regulations in the sector.
Machogu said that he would be consulting with all stakeholders to drive the reform processes to a logical conclusion based on the recommendations of the taskforce.
He added that he would be appealing to the National Assembly and the Senate to be patient as they seek legal and policy reforms.
These recommendations will have a significant impact on the education sector in Kenya and will require the support of all stakeholders, including the National Assembly and the Senate, to be implemented.
TSC Powers To Be Reduced Under New Proposal