Teachers are concerned about mass transfers planned for next term by the Teachers Service Commission (TSC), which is endeavoring to balance staff across the country.
The exercise, according to Commission Chief Executive Nancy Macharia, is designed to ensure that all schools have a balanced teacher-to-student ratio before the start of the new academic calendar.
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Teachers from both primary and secondary schools around the country will be transferred to various schools as part of the nationwide exercise, which began yesterday.
Despite the commission’s various efforts to resolve teacher shortages, Ms Macharia wrote in a letter to all TSC regional directors that the situation is compounded by irregular teacher distribution.
“If unchecked, this will adversely impact learning outcomes in our learning institutions,” said Ms Macharia.
She directed the regional directors to coordinate with county directors in their respective regions and undertake teacher rationalisation with a view to ensuring equitable distribution across the schools.
“Any arising movements conducted in the local areas must have a human face and must be well discussed with all relevant offices to ensure equity for all of our learners in tandem with existing staffing norms,” said Ms Macharia.
According to TSC, the shortage of teachers in primary and post primary institutions stands at 114,581.
Among the factors to be considered when transferring the teachers is their age, health status, disabilities, marital status and time served in the current school.
Teachers aged 56 years and above will be exempted from the transfer, as well as those with proven cases of terminal illness. Others are teachers with disability and who have the necessary certification.
“The committee will evaluate each case on its own merit, taking into consideration the supporting medical documents, availability and accessibility to the appropriate medical facilities, among other factors in the proposed station,” she said.
“Transfer of teachers will be carried out during the school holidays to ensure stability and smooth running of the school programme except for emergencies,” Macharia directed.
Last week, the TSC boss said the transfers would have a human face and must be discussed with all relevant offices to ensure equity for all learners.
