More than 3,000 teachers moved

TSC CEO Nancy Macharia. [File, Standard]

The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) has announced the transfer of 3,094 primary and secondary school head teachers, even as the Kenya National Union of Teachers (Knut) protested.

According TSC Chief Executive Officer Nancy Macharia, the transfers were "routine" and meant to achieve equity in teacher distribution in public schools.

“TSC county directors should ensure that handing and taking over will have been concluded by December 28, 2018 and a status report submitted to the director of staffing by December 31, 2018,” said Dr Macharia.

She said any issues by individual head teachers arising from the transfer would be handled by the receiving county directors.

Macharia announced that in making the transfers, the commission considered factors such as number of years pending retirement and exceptional circumstances such as health. 

“Some principals and head teachers who have served for a long period in the same institution have been transferred. It is intended that the transfer will provide them with a new working environment and also tap into their vast experience,” said Macharia.

She said some head teachers had also applied to be transferred to new stations.

“Such applications are normally considered at the end of the year to avoid unnecessary disruption in curriculum delivery,” she said.

But Knut has opposed the transfers, saying President Uhuru Kenyatta’s directive must be respected. Uhuru had said the transfers separated families and directed Education Cabinet Secretary Amina Mohamed to revise the transfer policy.