The recruitment exercise for additional teachers by the Teachers Service Commission, TSC, has been thrown into confusion. The interviews that were slated for Monday September 28, 2020 failed to kick off with no apparent reason coming through.
According to an earlier released schedule by the TSC, selection of successful applicants, who will then fill employment forms, would be done by the TSC County Directors between Monday September 28, 2020 and Friday October 2, 2020.
The teachers’ employer is yet to give any explanation as to why the recruitment has delayed. This comes even as rumours emerged that the over 10,000 teachers currently working on internship would be confirmed on permanent basis; to take up the slots.
But, the Commission last week insisted that the recruitment process has not been called off.
“We wish to draw the attention of teachers and the general public to a fake circular purporting that the recruitment of teachers has been stopped. The exercise is on course and successful applicants will be notified about the time and venues for interviews. We appeal to all applicants and the general public to be vigilant of fraudsters and fake news peddlers.” Said the Commission’s Head of Corporate Affairs, Beatrice Wababu.
A school head who spoke to this reporter on condition of anonymity said they are equally in the dark as proper communication is yet to be made.
“We haven’t received any information on the way forward (as pertains interviews for new teachers). We are in the dark as at now. I had prepared for the recruitment this week but seems the exercise will not be conducted as scheduled,” he said.
Most Counties had drafted their recruitment schedules detailing the interview dates and venues.
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Reopening of schools put on hold
With reopening of schools remaining a mirage, it seems the recruitment exercise may as well be pushed forward. While addressing the nation on Monday evening, President Uhuru Kenyatta said schools should only be reopened once the covid19 curve flattens out.
“The lives and health of our children is not a matter of debate. Learning institutions should be reopened only when we can sufficiently guarantee the safety of our children. And here I really would plead with Kenyans – let us not focus ourselves on when schools will reopen but how shall these schools open in a manner that protects our children and protects their lives and their health. Let us think first about their health and wellbeing and once we have established how then together we will agree when.” Uhuru said.
The head of State directed and ordered the Cabinet Secretary for Education, Prof George Magoha, to issue the Calendar for the resumption of the 2020 Academic calendar. He said the Calendar may be pushed to 2021 if it will be deemed necessary.
The Kenya Medical Association (KMA) on Sunday warned the Health and Education Ministries against the Scheduled October reopening of schools. The KMA chairman Andrew Were said there was need for the government to be able to prove that schools are safe for reopening (See presser below).
The Kenya National Union of Teachers, KNUT, on its part wants schools to be reopened just like in other countries.
“The curve is flattening, the positivity rate is below 5%. We should get our children back to school, it is what other nations are doing and in case of any spike in numbers we should be well prepared… And we all agree, the protocols by the World Health Organization must be followed and that is why teachers will report two weeks before the official reopening of schools in order to prepare to receive children back” says KNUT Secretary General Wilson Sossion.
“If one of the options will be to close down schools in case of a spike, that will be done. The reality Kenyans must know is that this disease is still here with us.” Adds Sossion.
Their counterparts (the Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers- Kuppet) supported the move by President Uhuru adding that the announcement marks the beginning of the full reopening of the economy.
“As teachers, parents and workers, we fully support government efforts to ensure a steady but healthy return to normalcy,” said KUPPET Secretary General Akello Misori.
Parents who were interviewed by various media houses supported the move by the president to put reopening of schools on hold.
Meanwhile, teachers trooped back to their stations on Monday morning following a directive by TSC. In most schools the facilities were in a deplorable state and some teachers were pictured tidying up the places.
And with the President putting school reopening on hold, there is confusion as to whether the tutors will continue reporting to school daily or just stay at home. TSC on its part insists the tutors should be in school to make them inhabitable ahead of the now uncertain reopening dates.
The Magoha led team of stake holders will again return to the drawing board to work out an agreeable schools’ reopening formula.