Threat by TSC officials to make impromptu visits to schools throws teachers in panic mode

News that TSC commissioners would be visiting public schools unannounced caused a lot of anxiety at Meta Meta secondary school. Okonkwo, the school head, summoned us for an urgent staff meeting to strategise on how best to prepare for the visit.

“Colleagues, lets present the best image. All of you must ensure that you have schemes of work, lesson notes, lesson plans and mark books. Class teachers should also update their registers,” he said as he ticked off the items from a note book.

“I have walked into all the classes and I must say I have been shocked. The walls are as bare as that of a church. Get Manila papers from the store and make sure that the walls have educational information. You can have scientific formulae, drawings and anything else that gives the impression that we are a serious institution of learning,” he concluded.

The deputy, Wangu Wa Makeri whispered something to him and he nodded vigorously. “The TSC expects you to dress appropriately. This is a school and not a construction site. Those of you who have been walking around in ‘hanging’ shirts and open shoes must style up. Those who put on tents, masquerading as coats please invest in decent suits!” The comment was aimed at Thunder who reacted immediately.

“Mwalimu, I would like to put on a suit every day, but the chalk the school buys is of poor quality and that forces me to take the clothes to the laundry every other day. We should in fact ask for a clothes and laundry allowance when the officers come,” he observed.

Loss of jobs

Okonkwo advised him to petition teachers’ union boss, Sossion to include the laundry allowance in the union’s demands to the TSC.

The principal also launched a cleaning exercise to give the school a face lift. The support staff has been working nonstop. On Wednesday morning, he almost slapped a worker who had come to school after six.

“How can you report to work after me, yet I am the principal? Do you want me to lose my job?” He shouted as he threw a slap at him. The sudden appearance of madam Magarita saved the man. Wa Makeri had to intervene when he ordered the workers to wash the road leading to Meta Meta with soap. This made Aeneas to wonder whether prophet Owuor was coming to the school. The boys’ toilet block has received a new coat of paint too.

Okonkwo was shocked when he discovered rather disturbing graffiti on the toilet wall. One read, ‘We deliver high quality weed, call this number for a sample’. Only the first three and last two digits of the mobile telephone number were provided. Immediately after the teachers brief, Okonkwo had met with the kitchen staff. He informed them that they should wash and iron their staff uniform.

Turning to Jezebel, he remarked: “Make sure that the kitchen is thoroughly cleaned. Find a way of killing all those rats you have been breeding there. It would be quite an embarrassing affair if one of the rodents jumped up the skirt of a senior commissioner from the TSC.”

Magarita, the CU patron, being quite unprepared for the impromptu visit has launched into what she refers to as spiritual warfare to prevent the TSC team from visiting Meta Meta.

“Jehovah God just as you protected your servant David when he was being pursued by King Saul; I pray that you may prevent the TSC commissioners from seeing anything wrong at Meta Meta. I bind them and prevent them from setting their feet here. May you direct their feet elsewhere,” I overheard her praying in her office.

The week ended and we never saw TSC officials. May be, just may be Magarita’s prayers worked.

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