TSC ignored Uhuru directive on transfers - unions

The teachers' employer was yesterday accused of turning a deaf ear to a presidential directive to review transfer of teachers from their home areas to other counties.

Two unions said the Teachers Service Commission is yet to effect the order eight months later.

Knut  said teacher transfers that were effected in December last year did not consider families, a claim supported by Kuppet.

President Uhuru Kenyatta last August directed that the teachers' delocalisation policy be reviewed to ensure it does not break up families.

In a rare convergence of thought, the two unions have blamed TSC for failing to consult before implementing the policy.

TSC introduced the policy in 2017  that has so far affected 4,000 teachers.

Appearing before Parliament's committee on Education, Knut officials said they want the employer to scrap the delocalisation policy but Kuppet called for a review.

The review should take into consideration the age of a teacher, health condition, family status and special roles such as union officials.

Kuppet secretary general Akello Misori said the union knew of cases of teachers nearing retirement and others with chronic illnesses who had been moved far from their home counties.

"Many disabled teachers have suffered under the delocalisation programme. An example is a teacher in Bomet county who was involved in an accident and the TSC was well aware of his injuries and condition yet they transferred him to Trans Nzoia," Misori said.

Union officials told the Education committee the delocalisation policy is being implemented amidst an acute shortage of teachers in public schools, thus hurting staffing.

In May last year, TSC boss Nancy Macharia released new guidelines requiring teachers to serve at least five years in the counties where they are posted before they can seek a transfer.