Lack of Transfers Refuses Teachers to Attend School
Teachers from locations other than Arid and Semi-Arid Lands have not shown up for work despite the fact that the third school year has been underway for two weeks. Approximately 300 teachers are currently camped out at the headquarters of the Teachers Service Commission (TSC), refusing to return to their allocated regions unless they are granted transfers.
Peter Kamoen of Mandera, a teacher, expressed his dissatisfaction with the lack of progress on his transfer request. He said that they had tried for two weeks to meet with TSC boss Dr. Nancy Macharia, but the commission requested they return to work.
Evans Nyaundi requested that the Education Committee intervene because prior petitions had gone unanswered. He hoped that Julius Melly and his committee could address their concerns, resulting in the TSC approving the requested moves.
Charles Achol, a teacher in the region, emphasized the difficulties they experience as a result of instability and weak transportation networks. He said that they were considering transfers as a result of these issues, with the additional strain of high travel expenditures exceeding their monthly wages. They had to remain in improvised accommodations when they arrived at their new assignments, which were far from ideal.
Achol observed that these circumstances inhibited teachers from visiting their homes during school vacations. During a meeting with TSC CEO Dr. Nancy Macharia, Luanda MP Dick Maungu expressed reservations about traumatized teachers’ ability to serve kids properly. He stressed the instructors’ safety, wondering how they might hide overnight and then teach successfully the next day.
Haro Abdul, a Mandera South member of parliament, criticized the time-consuming process of seeking transfers, which hampered instructors’ capacity to assist their students. He was concerned that such disruptions would have a negative impact on children’s education.
Rebecca Tonkei, Narok MP, chastised the TSC for maintaining teachers against their will, despite their requests for transfers. Dr. Macharia, on the other hand, mentioned several factors that influence teacher transfers, such as the necessity for replacements, job availability, personnel policies, and medical reasons.
Dr. Macharia stressed the Commission’s responsibility to ensure equitable distribution and effective deployment of teachers in order to deliver quality education to kids throughout the country. She mentioned that many ASAL instructors desired transfers back to their home regions, and that different obstacles made these moves difficult.
Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki stated to the National Assembly’s Education Committee in a separate hearing that many teachers had to stay in temporary or police stations for their protection. Kindiki promised that all non-local instructors had been transferred to safer regions until the threats abated.
MP Julius Melly voiced concern about the upcoming school closures and reopenings, particularly for instructors who had suffered trauma and stigma after losing colleagues. He underlined the importance of these instructors’ support and safety.
Kindiki asked the TSC to transfer non-local instructors after a short amount of time and suggested that the government provide grants for local students to attend teaching programs.
