It has been a busy year in the education sector. Right from the implementation of the new Competency Based Curriculum (CBC) to recruitment of teacher interns. As 2019 draws to a conclusion, we take a look at the news that hit the headlines in the education sector and take a sneak preview of what to expect in the new year, 2020. 2019 started on a high note with a scuffle on School Heads’ transfers between the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) and the Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) threatening to spoil the party. KNUT was opposed to a move by the TSC to transfer 3,094 heads of institution; some of whom were branch officials. TSC, had insisted that calls to revoke the transfers were futile as the moved head teachers and principals had already reported to their new stations; by first term opening date. Attempts by KNUT to call teachers to industrial action would then fall through since the teachers’ employer, TSC, had already threatened to ‘sack’ any teacher who will participate in the strike; and replace them immediately.
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In February, the Commission announced that it had axed 29 teachers for various disciplinary issues. TSC, gazetted 29 teachers struck off the Commission’s register. Via a gazette notice dated February 2019, the Commission said the teachers were de-registered between May and November, 2018. According to the TSC act, a teacher can be de-registered for either of the following reasons; When he/ she:
- Dies
- Obtains registration fraudulently
- Has been convicted of a sexual offence or an offence against a learner
- Has been convicted of a criminal offence which renders the person unfit to be a teacher
- Is found unfit to teach following disciplinary proceedings
- Suffers from physical or mental illness or infirmity which renders the person incapable of performing the duties of a teacher.
August was a month of gloom and anguish for mostly KNUT members. The Commission prepared two parallel payrolls; for KNUT members and other teachers. Whereas non-KNUT members got their phase three of the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), for KNUT members it was a different story. This is because the Labor and Relations Court had ordered that their (KNUT Members) terms be based on the Schemes of Service and not Career Progression Guidelines (CPG). The Commission in the same month advertised 1,000 teachers in Primary schools who would be promoted to teach in high schools. With few days till end of the year, the would be applicants are yet to know their fate. September did not get better for mostly KNUT members. It was grief and pain for teachers who had disrupted the new Competency Based Curriculum, CBC, training in April this year. This is after their employer, the Teachers Service Commission (TSC), decided to dismiss some of them for disrupting the training. “Pursuant to the hearing of your discipline case held on 15/08/2019, I am directed by the Teachers Service Commission to inform you that the Commission has carefully considered your case and has determined that you are guilty of the charges leveled against you and that you are hereby dismissed with effect from 15/8/2019,” read, in part, a dismissal letter sent to one of the affected teachers. In May the Commission had interdicted 160 teachers, among them 10 KNUT officials, for boycotting and disrupting CBC training. The interdictions were effected on 5th May, 2019 and the teachers given 21 days to show cause why action could not be taken against them. In April there was temporary disruption of training sessions witnessed in parts of Kakamega, Kajiado, Makueni, Homa Bay among other counties. The interdicted teachers who had responsibilities were directed by TSC to vacate office with immediate effect. Efforts by the Kenya National Union of Teachers, Knut, leadership to have the decision rescinded were met by opposition from the Commission; with TSC Boss Dr. Nancy Macharia promising stern action. The Commission at the same time created a new user friendly portal for capturing the teachers’ appraisal data. This saw the reduction in the number of teaching standards to be appraised for teachers from the previous seven to five on its online appraisal portal. The portal that intends to reduce bottlenecks in the current one is yet to be officially rolled out by TSC. TSC would then (on Wednesday September 25, 2019) hold its first ever open teachers’ day in selected venues countrywide. During the event, schools and teachers who posted good results in academics and Co-curricular activities were feted. The Theme for this year’s day was; TSC INTEGRATING TECHNOLOGY & INNOVATION FOR QUALITY TEACHING. And the sacking spree (for teachers caught on the wrong side of the code of conduct) would continue. TSC sent home another 36 teachers suspected to have breached the code of conduct for teachers. The list of all male teachers was posted on the TSC website in October, 2019. But, all was not lost for teachers as recognition for their good work would continue in the World Scene. First, it was teacher Peter Tabichi who won the $1 million Varkey Foundation Global Teacher Prize at a star-studded event in Dubai on March 24, 2019. Then came Asumbi’s Eric Ademba, a mathematics and chemistry teacher who was presented with the African Union Continental Teacher Award for outstanding performance, a first of its kind. Wednesday October 23, 2019 would be the day to remember for teacher Ademba.
Hope the new year brings more good news to teachers and worthy reforms in the education sector. This year the Commission has recruited a total of 16,979 on permanent basis to bridge the teething shortage in public schools. Also recruited this year are about 10,000 teacher interns who will report to their stations in January, 2020. A total of 16,113 teachers will count themselves lucky since they received their promotions. Another 218,283 teachers have also been trained this year on the CBC. In 2020, close to 2,600 classroom teachers will report to new stations after receiving their transfer letters. Also moved are some 1,010 principals in secondary schools across the 47 counties. 1,621 primary school head teachers will at the same time report to new stations in January, 2020.