Clean-up Your House, Serve Teachers Diligently- KNUT tells TSC
Teschers also told to adhere to the TSC codes of regulations as cases of indiscipline among teachers have started cropping up.
BY Wakhungu Andanje
The Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) has called on Teachers Service Commission (TSC) to clean its house and start serving teachers diligently.
While addressing the Kakamega North teachers attending the annual general meeting, Knut National Vice Treasurer Kennedy Nyamwanda said it is time for the new leadership of TSC to get back on course and serve Kenyan teachers who suffered and humiliated by the outgoing leadership.
“We are happy that the regime of (TSC) Chief Executive Officer Nancy Macharia has come to an end it has been many years of pain and agony for teachers countrywide and we have faith in the new (C.E.O) Eveleen Mitei who has hit the ground running as we already have signed anew (CBA) for the next four years (2025-29) and from the look of things she will overhaul the commission for the benefits of the teachers” he stated.
He also told teachers to adhere to the TSC codes of regulations as cases of indiscipline among teachers have started cropping up.
"The issues we are hearing of teacher shaving affairs with pupils should are isolated cases but should stop immediately as we know our teachers are disciplined and are fully aware of the consequences".
Knut National vice treasurer Kennedy Nyamwanda who was the guest of honor during the subcounty AGM. Photo/ WAKHUNGU ANDANJE
Nyamwanda also called on the teachers service commission address the junior secondary school teacher shortage in the country as it was a crisis in waiting if not tackled now.
Since the introduction of comp0etence based curriculum (CBC) has now been now been transformed into competence based education (CBE), the country is in dire need of trained teachers as the numbers of learners are growing each year.
At the same time the official cautioned the current junior secondary school teachers against looking down upon their fellow primary school teachers as having low level of education and called for harmony and unity between the teachers.
He further discouraged those head teachers who were mistreating their teachers as it amounted to mental torture that also affects the performance of the learners.
He condemned the infiltration of politicians into the employment of teachers where they picking employment letters from the teachers service commission and either selling them to teachers or issuing them to their supporters as rewards for their political support.
“Employment of teachers should be based on year of graduation and not backdoor employment pushed politically, let TSC follow due process in employing our teachers and stop involving the political wing”he said.
On teacher transfers, he nodded that it was normal as it came with new experiences but cautioned the commission against transferring teachers to schools where they are not comfortable as it kills their morale.
He challenged the government to walk the talk in implementing CBE by releasing capitation funds to schools on time to realize the syllabus.
“CBE is all about music,games and practicals,that can only be implemented when there’s availability of funds but this has not been happening as most schools are operating without with no funds making the realization of the new syllabus hard”
Nyamwanda advised the teachers service commission to urge the government to increase its budgetary allocation that will see more teachers being employed and promoted nationwide.
He said plans were underway to also engage Tsc to adjust the career progression guidelines (CPG) that will come up with cadre grades to allow teachers automatically promoted every after three years and this will inject new energy in the profession.
Knut is also working with other unions including central organization of trade union (COTU) to push for some of the legislation globally.
In what came as a sigh of relief for teachers, the union announced that it will not renew its contract with its medical cover scheme (AON) minet for its continued poor services to the teachers countrywide.
“Many teachers have had issues with this medical scheme and as a union we have received several complains about their services and this has led us to not renew contract with them” he revealed.
He however said they were ready to support the government of the day if it also addresses our pressing issues.
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