Teachers’ transfer is final, report to work: TSC

Teachers Service Commission has said that the transfers of 3,094 teachers has been concluded and can’t be rescinded.

Consequently, it has ordered the affected teachers to be available in their new stations by today.

Kihumba Kamotho, TSC head of communications said TSC’s attention has been drawn to news reports in both the print and electronic media on the transfer and reporting of and deployment of 3,094 heads of institution.

“A proposal by some parties on the possibility of revocation and/or suspension of the transfers has, unfortunately, caused confusion and anxiety among teachers, heads of institution and stakeholders. This is at a time when the teachers, heads, parents and learners are preparing for the opening of schools on January 3, 2019,” Kamotho said.

He clarified that a significant number of the transfers and deployments were necessitated by the need to fill vacant positions following the retirement of some heads of institutions in the last three months.

“This has resulted in the elevation of some deputy heads to headship, which is necessary for their career growth. Further, some of the transfers were initiated by heads of institutions who had applied to be moved to new stations for different professional and personal reasons. A reversal of the transfer would affect their productivity and performance,” he said.

In some cases, he said, the commission had acted to strengthen management of some learning institutions following recommendations from standards and assessment reports.

“In other schools, principals and head teachers had served in the same institution for a long period and needed to be exposed different working environment and also tap into their vast experience. This is in line with policy,” Kamotho said.

He directed that the affected teachers should be available in their new stations today.

Transfer of teachers is one of the reasons that made Kenya National Union of Teachers (Knut) call for strike, starting today. Knut Secretary General Wilson Sossion said the transfers are causing family break-ups.