TSC, union expected to face off at summit

What you need to know:

  • Expected at the meeting to be attended by 2,000 delegates are President Kenyatta, Education CS Amina Mohamed and her PS Belio Kipsang.
  • During the 60th annual delegates conference in Mombasa last year, the teachers asked their employer to withdraw the appraisal tools.

  • Twelve months down the line, TSC has not addressed any of the concerns.

A clash is looming between Teachers and their employer over various issues that remain unresolved.

Teachers Service Commission CEO Nancy Macharia and other top officials have been invited to a three-day Kenya National Union of Teachers (Knut) annual delegates conference in Nairobi.

The promotion of 30,000 teachers, performance appraisal tools, delocalisation of teachers and other issues will dominate the discussions.

Also expected at the meeting to be attended by 2,000 delegates are President Kenyatta, Education CS Amina Mohamed and her PS Belio Kipsang.

During the 60th annual delegates conference in Mombasa last year, the teachers asked their employer to withdraw the appraisal tools, repeal the delocalisation policy and work on promotions.

MEDIATION ATTEMPTS

“Twelve months down the line, TSC has not addressed any of the concerns,” Knut Secretary-General Wilson Sossion says in a report to be tabled at the summit.

According to Mr Sossion, TSC “without remorse or sympathy for the already tormented and suffering teachers, has ignored mediation attempts leading to industrial solution with a view to settling the matter amicably”.

“With no iota of shame, TSC has disregarded the presidential directive to reverse some draconian policies, particularly delocalisation, which is breaking families,” the report says.

He adds that the commission’s “disregard of the rule of law and acting in contravention of the code of regulations for teachers and collective bargaining agreement”, has witnessed learning and teaching outcomes plummet to worrying levels “because teachers’ morale is at its lowest ebb”.

STATE OF ANXIETY

“Lack of career progression and adequate continuous professional training can easily be noticed. These tribulations have driven teachers to a state of anxiety, uncertainty and desperation, hopelessness and despair,” the Orange Democratic Movement nominated MP adds in his report.

According to the Knut secretary general, more than 30,000 teachers have acquired higher academic qualifications for the purpose of earning promotions, but that has not happened since 2014.

“Some teachers are about to exit the service after remaining in the same grade for more than 15 years despite excelling in their career and having clean records,” the report says, adding that most have diplomas, degrees, masters and PhDs.