The Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) Secretary General Collins Oyuu has called on the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) to stop interdicting teachers recklessly.
Oyuu said that teachers are civil servants like their peers in other sectors and they should be handled professionally.
“It is evident that the rate at which TSC is interdicting teachers is very high compared to other civil servants employed by the Public Service Commission,” he said. “TSC is carelessly using their authority to punish teachers instead of viewing them as civil servants who have responsibilities and duties.”
While addressing teachers at Kunste Hotel in Nakuru city during World Teachers Day celebrations, Oyuu said that the union was very concerned by the careless interdiction even without proof of mistakes that the teachers are claimed to have committed.
“The Judiciary Service Commission is a constitutional commission just like TSC, but have you ever heard of their members being interdicted carelessly?” he posed.
He urged TSC to have a clear framework of understanding teachers before they make drastic decisions that greatly affect their profession in order to maintain and improve teaching standards.
Oyuu said that teachers are the most overworked civil servants and they deserved to be treated with respect.
“We are encouraging our employer to know that teachers are people and parents, who apart from teaching must take care of their children. They cannot be punished carelessly without being heard,” he said.
Oyuu said that Kenya is a diverse country with different cultures, environments and challenges, adding that these issues should be considered by TSC when posting teachers.
“A teacher in West Pokot cannot be treated like a teacher in Western because the challenges both teachers are facing are different,” he said.
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The union boss added that another challenge facing teachers is transfer denial by TSC officers for no reason, which has affected the quality of education in many schools.
“A teacher is more productive in his preferred workstation, where they feel comfortable,” said Oyuu.
Oyuu condemned TSC Officers who deny transfers as a tool for harassment, adding that hundreds of teachers are dying because of denial, even after presenting serious reasons such as the medical challenges they are facing.
The Unionist incited Dr. Nancy Macharia to visit TSC offices once in a while and witness how thousands of teachers are being mistreated.
Oyuu said that in line with this year’s theme, they will ensure the voices of teachers are heard from all schools across the country.
By Peter Otuoro
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