Teachers have proposed that the Teachers Service Commission
(TSC) be domiciled under the Ministry of Education.
Kenya National Union of Teachers (Knut) has also recommended
the establishment of an independent teachers regulatory
authority to deal with teachers training and registering of
teachers’ colleges.
The union said the independence of the commission has locked
out the Education Cabinet secretary from teachers’ welfare
and also leads to duplication of duties and personnel.
Led by Knut deputy secretary general Hesbon Otieno, the
union said the continued existence of TSC as an
independent commission brings into question the validity of
TSC Act (2012) as most of the teachers’ day-to-day activities,
curriculum implementation, supervision, quality assurance
and standards and assessment fall directly under the State
Department of Basic Education.
“It is only in Kenya where the Education Minister has no control
of the teacher but only controls pupils and students,” he said.
The union officials were speaking during the Building Bridges
Initiative validation forum in Nairobi, yesterday.
Otieno added that the duplication of duties and personnel
between the Ministry of Education and TSC was costing the
taxpayers a lot of money.
Knut National Treasurer John Matiang’i said since TSC became
independent, there has been conflict between it and the ministry which is affecting service delivery.
Block directive
“TSC earlier opposed and went to court to block the ministry
directive lowering training grades of teachers from
marginalised areas such as North Eastern to address
shortage. The directive was well through but the TSC rejected it,
” he said.
Few weeks ago, Education CS George Magoha, who was
accompanied by TSC chief executive Nancy Macharia in
parliament before Education committee, said TSC was acting
like the “fourth arm of government”.
Meanwhile, the union proposed the creation of a national
institute of education. This, they said will help in having a
well trained and holistic teachers at all levels of basic education.
Knut says independence of the
commission leads to duplication of duties
and affect teachers’ welfare
MORE CHANGES:
Knut has also recommended the establishment of an independent
teachers regulatory authority to deal with teachers training and
registering of teachers’ colleges.
The union added that the duplication of duties and personnel between
the Ministry of Education and TSC was costing the taxpayers a lot of
money.
