Teachers must serve where they are posted

The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) has announced a rationalisation exercise aimed at addressing shortage of teachers in schools in some parts of the country. With this exercise, schools with too many teachers will lose some of these instructors to institutions where staffing levels are inadequate.

Education Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i has in the past refuted claims of a shortage of teachers as claimed by the Kenya National Union of Teachers (Knut), saying the problem lies in deployment and posting. Indeed, Knut insists that the numbers fall short by some 85,000 teachers, which it wants the government to hire.

A 2014 report by a task force chaired by Dr Kilemi Mwiria, the Presidents’ advisor on education matters, indicated that school boards spend an average Sh1.8 million to pay teachers not hired by the government due to the shortage. The fact is some schools have too few teachers, jeopardising the quality of instruction. Learners in such schools are getting a raw deal despite the fact that they will sit the same examination at the end of the year with those from well-staffed institutions.

As the exercise kicks off, we urge fairness while initiating teacher transfers. There are reports that some teachers prefer working in particular regions. While it is not wrong for one to have a preference, teachers must be prepared to serve where they are posted.