TSC Breaks Silence on Promotions Uproar, Advocates for Amicable Way Forward
The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) today released a statement in defense of the recent promotion of 25,000 teachers, which is currently facing intensified scrutiny and criticism from various stakeholders, including Parliament and teacher unions.
The Commission asserted that the exercise was conducted with fairness and transparency.
While addressing the graduation of TSC at the Kenya National Schools Principals Forum in Mombasa, Chief Executive Officer Dr. Nancy Macharia provided her first commentary on the entire issue, expressing her hope that dialogue would resolve all concerns.
She reiterated the Commission’s commitment to upholding integrity and ensuring the recognition of qualified teachers who are deserving.
According to Dr. Macharia, TSC has implemented several service delivery reforms aimed at enhancing its service delivery, particularly regarding management in schools nationwide.
She added that the regular promotions were part of broader efforts to acknowledge professionalism and work ethic among professionals in this sector.
However, the promotion has faced considerable criticism, especially from the Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET). In a statement, KUPPET’s acting secretary general, Moses Nthurima, articulated concerns regarding fairness in the distribution of allocation.
He pointed out that the entitlement to promotion slots across counties does not consider the varying teacher populations within each county, as some counties will receive the same number of promotions despite significant disparities in teacher workforce size.
Nthurima also asserted that some of the teachers promoted lack substantial experience compared to their colleagues, raising suspicions of political interference.
He questioned the transparency of the process and criticized the Commission for failing to consult with unions prior to finalizing the list.
In response, Dr. Macharia firmly rejected any allegations of political influence, stating that she does not attend political events nor engage in such matters.
She maintained that the promotions were based on merit and aligned with the government policy to decentralize recruitment and establish equal opportunities across different regions.
TSC called upon the involved parties to engage in constructive dialogue to ensure that the teaching sector remains focused on enhancing educational standards.
Dr. Macharia expressed her hope that a consensus would be reached soon, thus allowing promoted teachers to assume their new roles without any further delay.