MP urges the TSC to safeguard teachers from unjust employment practices.
Susan Kiamba, the Member of Parliament for Makueni constituency, has urged the Teachers’ Service Commission (TSC) to adhere to the correct procedures when hiring teachers, stating that education should not be influenced by politics.
She urged TSC to adhere to their responsibilities in this nation, emphasizing that education should never be influenced by politics.
She stated that everything can be politicized except education, urging the TSC to remember they are supported by taxpayers and should not rely on political affiliations for resources and salaries.
While distributing revision books to schools in her constituency, she mentioned the focus on day schools, which have struggled with limited resources such as textbooks. The legislature emphasized that there are teachers who have been unemployed for 15 years while others are hired within a year of applying.
Kiamba lamented that despite the abundance of qualified teachers, some individuals are receiving employment letters without attending any interviews, while many deserving teachers remain unemployed.
The MP also mentioned that capitation continues to be a problem, stating that it is delayed and insufficient when provided, resulting in schools accumulating debts and struggling to pay suppliers.
“The legislature stated that when the government withholds capitation funds, the limited amount of money provided by students is not sufficient to cover the costs of education. Principals are feeling overwhelmed as they are forced to operate schools without financial support.”
Kiamba further mentioned that the problem has been exacerbated by the decision to grant school certificates without payment of outstanding fees.
Kiamba wonders where schools will get funding now that students are given their certificates before paying fees instead of receiving funds when fees are cleared.