TSC Boss Nancy Macharia. KNUT Leaders from Marsabit has faulted the commission for reducing number of promoted teachers in the county. Photo: KNA.
Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT), has faulted the move by Teachers Service Commission (TSC), to reduce the number of teachers promoted in Marsabit from 431 to 246.
While addressing journalists in the county, KNUT Secretary General Rosemary Talaso, termed the move by the teachers employer as unfair treatment of Arid and Semi-arid Lands (ASAL) teachers, and a clear mark of their discrimination.
They called on TSC to reconsider their decision, and revise their list of promoted teachers released on Thursday last week, to ensure that teachers in ASAL areas are treated fairly like their colleagues in other parts of the country.
“We condemn the recent reduction of promoted teachers from 431 to 246, we have lost 185 slots as ASAL teachers. We have been discriminated by both TSC and National Assembly Education Committee, which is unfair. We ask TSC to reconsider its decision and ensure that our teachers receive equal treatment like the rest in other regions of the country during promotions,” she lamented.
The list of the teachers was released after months of scrutiny and approval by the National Assembly Committee chaired by Julius Melly, Tinderet Constituency lawmaker.
According to Talaso, the move will demoralize teachers in the region, which will eventually affect the education system in the county, from performance of students and teachers in carrying out their duty. They said the aftermath result largely impacts the students, who will receive poor quality of education.
“This will affect education and teachers in Marsabit, as they will lack motivation and morale to do their job. Our students will be affected from this, as they will be receiving low quality education from the demotivated teachers, impacting their performance,” Talaso further argued.
She urged that they believe that teachers in the country are being given equal opportunity to enhance their careers, as well as opportunities, without discrimination, stating that they will not stop their fight to ensure teachers in ASAL receive equal treatment for growth and promotion as well.
“We believe that teachers have the same opportunity and rights to be treated fairly and advance their careers through promotions. We will stand in solidarity with our teachers in ASAL areas to fight for an equal education system,” she remarked.
Talaso called on leaders in the National Assembly from Marsabit to ensure that they fight fir the rights of the teachers in the county, and stand against the unfair treatment of teachers in ASAL by the education committee.
As their counterparts in KUPPET, they faulted the National Assembly Committee on Education for interfering with the independence of TSC and manipulating the promotion, calling on the committee to let the commission work independently without interference.
