TSC on the spot over ‘irregular’ Promotions
The Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education (KUPPET) is calling for an immediate halt to the current teacher promotions, arguing that the process is inequitable.
KUPPET’s National Chairman and Emuhaya Member of Parliament, Omboko Milemba, stated that the union has submitted a petition to the National Assembly Education Committee, criticizing the promotion formula as unfair and discriminatory.
Milemba expressed concerns that while some teachers have remained in the same position for nearly eight years without promotion, others are being promoted within just six months. He urged the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) to cease the promotions and requested an investigation into the funds allocated for these promotions, despite the National Assembly approving the budget.
During a bursary distribution event at Ematsuli Secondary School in Vihiga County, Milemba warned that KUPPET would consider alternative actions against the TSC if the promotions continue. He emphasized the need for fairness in resource allocation, as the current system disadvantages teachers in certain regions.
Teachers have criticized the quota system as unjust, claiming it puts tutors in areas with a high number of unqualified teachers at a disadvantage. They are protesting against over 19,000 positions advertised last year, with interviews conducted in January, alleging that qualified teachers were overlooked while unqualified ones were considered.
Last month, KUPPET advocated for significant reforms in the teacher promotion system, highlighting issues of stagnation and unequal vacancy distribution. This follows the TSC’s announcement of promotions for 28,288 teachers across various grades this year.
KUPPET’s Deputy Secretary-General, Moses Nthurima, condemned the TSC for its biased promotion process, noting that a county with over 11,000 teachers receives the same number of vacancies as one with only 1,000 teachers, making it ten times easier for a teacher in a smaller county to be promoted compared to their counterparts in larger counties. The union is also seeking a resolution for the 130,000 teachers who have been stuck in the same job group for more than five years.
Nthurima at the same time calls for a review of the fast-track promotion policy for teachers in Arid and Semi-Arid Lands (ASAL), arguing that it has created disparities instead of addressing staffing challenges in hardship areas.
