Is TSC planning a widespread reshuffle of teachers prior to the commencement of Grade 10 Senior School? Obtain responses.
The likelihood of a significant reshuffle among secondary school educators appears increasingly plausible as institutions gear up to admit the inaugural cohort of Senior School students in January. A recent document from the Ministry of Education, titled “National Report: County-Based Dialogue on Education Quality and Learning Outcomes in Competency-Based Education (CBE),” delineates the transition from Junior to Senior Secondary and suggests the redeployment of teachers to mitigate the existing shortages.
The document advocates for the redistribution of teachers according to the particular academic programs offered by schools. This may lead to the transfer of thousands of teachers across various counties and regions.
It notes that numerous schools are grappling with acute shortages, especially in technical and vocational education. This deficiency is particularly evident in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM), prompting concerns regarding the quality of education within senior schools.
As underscored in the report, other specialized subjects, including Music in Creative Arts, Special Needs Education (SNE), and Pre-Technical Studies, are similarly experiencing deficits.
Should the plan be executed, it could incite significant discourse as the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) endeavors to implement it. Previous large-scale transfers have frequently encountered substantial resistance from teacher unions and local communities.
For instance, in 2018, the TSC confronted considerable protests following the enactment of a delocalization policy, which sought to relocate teachers from their home regions to further national unity. Numerous educators impacted by the policy reported challenges such as family separations, emotional distress, financial hardships, and difficulties in adapting to new environments.
At that time, the Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) denounced the transfers, contending that they were punitive rather than reformative and that there had been inadequate consultation prior to their implementation.