TSC says recent promotions of 25,000 teachers were conducted in a fair and transparent manner

TSC asserts that the latest promotions of 25,000 teachers, which Parliament rejected, were carried out in a fair and transparent manner.

What you need to know:

– The Parliamentary Committee on Education dismissed the promotions list, claiming that the process was not handled fairly.
– Kuppet acting secretary general Moses Nthurima called for fairness and transparency in the promotion process for teachers.

The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) has insisted that the recent promotions of 25,000 teachers, which were turned down by Parliament, were conducted in a fair and transparent manner.

In her first public comments regarding the issue, TSC chief executive officer Nancy Macharia expressed hope that the matter will soon be resolved amicably, allowing deserving teachers to begin enjoying their new roles. The Committee on Education in the National Assembly rejected the promotions list, stating that the process was not fair and that some eligible teachers were not included.

Ms. Macharia, whose 10-year term concludes on June 30, 2025, mentioned that she has implemented numerous reforms over the years, most of which have enhanced the school system. She pointed to the promotions of 25,000 teachers across various levels, which have recently attracted significant criticism.

She made her remarks during the Kenya National Schools Principals Forum held in Mombasa.

“Even before we could announce the results of the interviews, your own Kenya Secondary Schools Heads Association and trade unions were vocally opposing the promotion criteria,” Ms. Macharia stated.

“Year after year, many of you have rightfully benefited from promotions and reached the highest level of principal status, all because the majority of you take your responsibilities seriously,” the TSC chief noted. Ms. Macharia emphasized that during her decade of overseeing teachers as the commission’s CEO, the commission has provided dedicated service to the nation by guiding national schools in Kenya.

“Indeed, my willingness to speak with you today, with just two months left in my tenure, reflects the high priority that the 103-member Kenya National Schools Principals Forum holds,” Ms. Macharia remarked.

Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers (Kuppet) acting secretary general Moses Nthurima called for fairness and transparency regarding teacher promotions.

“Promotions should be merit-based, considering how an individual contributes to learners, engages in co-curricular activities, and fosters the overall growth of students. However, what the commission did was allocate positions equally across counties,” Mr. Nthurima explained.

For example, he cited Kiambu County with 11,000 teachers and Wajir with 800, both receiving equal promotion slots, meaning populous counties with many stagnant teachers would wind up missing out.

He questioned how TSC could promote teachers in disadvantaged areas within Arid and Semi-Arid Regions who had only served for six months while leaving out those who had dedicated ten years.

“Where is the fairness in that? ” he inquired, adding that the promotions lacked transparency, with unions unaware of the criteria used. He called on TSC to convene a meeting with teachers’ unions to further discuss the issue.
Kuppet has contacted TSC to request a meeting. Mr. Nthurima mentioned that if the meeting does not happen, they will explore other options, including pursuing a court injunction or organizing demonstrations.

“They simply proceed [without engaging the union], then announce it and claim it is fair. How is it fair when we have teachers everywhere lamenting that they have been overlooked for a decade,” he added.

The Kuppet representative remarked that the promotions were politically motivated, with regions where the government believes it can secure more votes receiving a larger number of promotion opportunities.

“Currently, there is significant interference in the management of teachers by politicians. It is quite unfortunate for teachers at this time because we have witnessed the distribution of job letters being sold in churches and markets,” he added.

However, Ms. Macharia denied the allegations of political influence in the promotions. She stated that she does not participate in political meetings.

“You know I come across these reports through newspapers and social media. If you visit our website, you will see the process by which teachers are recruited,” Ms. Macharia said.

Ms. Macharia explained that as soon as the Kenya Kwanza administration took office, the National Assembly enacted a policy for TSC to recruit teachers at the county level to provide equal opportunities for all.

“When the KK government came into power, it was established that we would recruit at the county level to ensure everyone has a chance so that counties compete with each other, and from areas that are facing challenges, we can find role models and local talent,” he asserted.