KUPPET SG in Marsabit has condemned the demotion of teachers in the released list of over 23,000 teachers promoted by TSC. Photo: SIFA FM.
Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET), Marsabit Secretary General Sarr Galgalo has expressed his disappointment following the move by Teachers Service Commission (TSC), to reduce the number of promoted teachers in the county.
Speaking in disappointment, Galgalo said that 185 teachers have been demoted, despite receiving promotion letters early this year. According to him, 431 slots was set for Marsabit, with the reduction of the slots currently standing at 246, a move Galgalo has termed unfair to the region.
“In the previous promotion, Marsabit was given 431 slots, in the recent one we have 246, which means 185 teachers are left stranded, this is not fair! The Central religion they are increasing the number, why are they not giving us the fair treatment? It is not my choice to be in Marsabit county, I’m a teacher I can teach in any part of the nation! But now I’m marginalized! Actually it is not fair,” Galgalo lamented.
Additionally, he faulted the move by the teachers employer, saying that it demoralizes the teachers in the county, as it is a marginalized county, with teachers going through a number of challenges as compared to theri colleagues other parts of the country.
“Mostly our teachers who have been rejected for more than 10 years are demoralized, a good number of them have told me they see no reason of working. They are actually demoralized. I want our area MPs to intervene for us immediately to save the situation, imagine you have been given a promotion letter and because other counties felt it was unfair, your letter is recalled and you are left in the same position,” he further lamented.
Galgalo also faulted the National Assembly Committee on education for interfering with process of promoting teachers, as well as the independence of TSC, which was carrying its duties well before their encroachment. Galgalo has threatened to form a union of teachers from Arid and Semi-Arid Lands (ASAL), that will fully fight for teachers in the area.
“After what has happened, it will force us to form a union of teachers from ASAL teachers association, because this is clear discrimination, and neo-colonialism. TSC should be allowed to do their work which they did fairly, before the intervention of the committee of education. They should be given an opportunity, the role of TSC is to recruit and promote teachers. Once parliament starts interfering with their work and manipulating, then the independence is gone!” Galgalo remarked.
Galgalo further called on Marsabit legislators in the National Assembly to fight and defend the teachers, when they are being discriminated by their employer TSC and the House Education Committee.
“As Marsabit county teachers and KUPPET, we are very bitter about what has happened on the promotion issues, and we are not taking it lightly. I urge all leaders from four constituencies to fight for teachers including the women representative and senator to speak for us when we are being treated unfairly and discriminated,” he further said.
His sentiments coming out after the National Assembly Committee on education approved a list of over 23,000 teachers for promotion by TSC, after months of scrutiny and vetting.
