Primary and secondary school teachers will be sent to other schools across the country as part of a national teacher transfer program that begins this month.
As the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) rationalizes jobs across the country, many teachers fear mass redundancies in the near term.
The initiation of delocalization of TSC has been painful for teachers during the transition period. Teachers expressed displeasure that the move would divide families.
Teachers who are married and who declare marital status will benefit from this move, as the commission mandates that they be relocated in the same environment whenever possible.
According to commission CEO Nancy Macharia, the aim of the move is to ensure that all schools have a teacher-pupil balance before the start of the new school year. School will return for the first session on April 25, 2022.
Despite various efforts by the board to address the shortage of teachers, CEO Macharia told all TSC regional directors that the situation of irregular distribution of teachers is worsening.
The chairman of TSC further said that if this problem is not solved, it will adversely affect the academic performance in our educational institution.
Transfer rights
To be eligible for transfer, teachers must have served at the station for at least three years or five years in the North East and other regions from the date of first appointment.
Consideration should also be given to teachers who apply and are eligible for transfer. Ms Macharia said the commission would start looking at gender balance and the safety of teachers if teachers meet the transfer criteria.
“Henceforth, the transfer of teachers will be an ongoing exercise to address staff gaps and ensure equalization and optimal utilization of teachers,” he said. He said the personnel training exercise will be completed on May 9.
Points to note
Transfer requests are generally considered for approval by the Appointments Board once at the end of the year. However, the Board may transfer teachers at its discretion. Teachers who wish to be considered for transfer must:
1.Fill out the form through the head of the organization. Application forms are available from TSC offices across the country or can be downloaded from the TSC website.
2.The completed form must be sent to the TSC or its representative by the head of the institution.
3.Transfers for elementary school teachers in the province will be made by the TSC District Director.
4.Out-of-province transfers will be handled by TSC headquarters. Applications for transfer to tertiary institutions are processed at TSC headquarters.
Requests sent to the Council will be acknowledged immediately. The decision of the appointment board will then be communicated to the teacher. Transfers will be made as vacancies and replacements become available
The long-serving headmistress is Ms Tabitha Mogoi of Kerongori Secondary School, who was transferred to Riambase in Nyamache district to fill the position of the former headmistress who passed away earlier this year.
The move paved the way for the former principal of Botoro High School in Marani District.
Grace Onyango, the principal of Nduru Girls School, has been transferred to Rabura Mixed Secondary School in Siaya District. It is not yet clear whether he will take up the post of principal or regular teacher.
Kenyania District Quality Assurance and Standards Officer, Mr Isaiah Sairiki, said the short educational news at Kerongori High School is that teachers are like other civil servants and can be transferred at any time.
He further said that employers should follow the instructions of the TSC and act immediately.
The officer asked the principal to work diligently at his new station.
Other principals transferred during the transition are Mr Aliwa, principal of Taranganya High School in Migori County, and Mr Benard Wamanga, who will report to Kiwaiwa High School in Kakamega County, to Terem High School.