Teachers demand leave to allow them contest for political seats without resigning

NAROK COUNTY: Teachers have called on the Teachers Service Commission to amend the Teachers Code of Conduct and Regulations so as to create a two months leave that will allow them to contest political seats.

Speaking in Narok last Friday during the branch Annual General Meeting, the teachers said those interested in political seats are often disadvantaged during elections because they are often asked to resign from their positions.

Led by Kenya National Union of Teachers Nakuru Executive Secretary Njau Kuria and his Bomet counterpart Malel Langat they said TSC should be giving them 60 days leave without pay.

"Normally we have witnessed teachers come out to contest but the unfortunate part is that they are normally asked to resign from their work. Those who lose are normally left jobless and we want this leave to allow them to come back and continue with their professional duties," said Kuria.

Langat said the leave will motivate more teachers to contest because they will be guaranteed their jobs should they not capture their seats.

"We need to have more teachers in political seats because they have proved to be among the best leaders this country has ever had. Unfortunately, TSC does not absorb those who lose which in turn has exacerbated the teacher shortage in our schools," said Langat.

Kuria faulted the politicians for not attending educational forums, especially those from Nakuru and Narok Counties.

"It is hypocritical for politicians to demand quality education yet they fail to attend forums that seek to raise the education quality. The parliamentarians have totally failed to address the problems facing the education sector in parliament," he said.

At the same time Narok Knut vice Executive Secretary Moses Nyaboga and Treasurer James Ngeeti called for political tolerance saying what has been witnessed recently may plunge the country into unnecessary political turmoil.

"There has been a high level of intolerance among politicians. From what happened in Bomet, Narok and more recently in Makueni there is every reason to be worried," said Nyaboga.