Kimilili MP Didmus Barasa has proposed four amendments to the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) Act, with the goal of improving teacher representation and resource management within the Commission.
In a letter to National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetangula on February 24, Barasa highlighted the importance of making the TSC more inclusive and representative of all stakeholders in education.
The proposed changes include allowing primary and secondary school teachers, as well as representatives from post-secondary institutions, to nominate members to the Commission.
He also suggested that secondary school teachers should have the right to elect a representative, ensuring their voices are heard at this important educational level.
Barasa stated, “We should introduce a provision that allows primary school teachers to nominate one representative from their group to join the Commission. Secondary school teachers should also be able to elect a representative, which would enhance direct input from this vital education sector.”
For post-secondary institutions, he proposed that they be allowed to nominate a commissioner to represent their interests.
“Post-secondary institutions should have the opportunity to nominate a representative to serve as a commissioner, ensuring their specific needs and contributions to education are considered in decision-making,” he added.
Furthermore, Barasa is advocating for the TSC to operate on a part-time basis rather than full-time.
“The Commission should meet part-time, as we already have a full-time secretariat. It is inefficient to have both the Commission and the secretariat functioning full-time, which leads to unnecessary resource expenditure,” he explained.
Discussing the broader implications of these proposed changes, Barasa reiterated his dedication to enhancing the efficiency and responsiveness of the TSC to teachers’ needs.
He elaborated that these amendments are intended to establish a more dynamic and effective governance structure within the Commission.
“I have begun the process to amend the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) Act to improve teacher representation on the Commission, similar to the structures in place for the Judicial Service Commission and the Parliamentary Service Commission.
“This initiative also aims to optimize resource allocation by shifting the Commission to a part-time operational model. Having both a dedicated Secretariat and a fully active Commission is not feasible; therefore, a more streamlined approach is necessary for effective governance,” he concluded.
