TSC threatens to sack teachers who will not report to school today

TSC chairperson Lydia Nzomo during National Conference for Curriculum Reforms at KICC, Nairobi, on 30/01/17. [Boniface Okendo, Standard]

The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) has ordered teachers to ignore the strike call by their union and report to work today or be replaced.

TSC chairperson Lydia Nzomo directed  Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Nancy Macharia to engage unemployed teachers in the commission’s data base to replace those who will fail to turn up in schools.

“TSC has taken the considered decision to promptly assign teachers in its data base in case teachers fail to report to duty today. The board has directed the CEO to immediately activate necessary mechanism to engage teachers in its data base where they may be needed,” said Dr Nzomo.

Even as the stalemate between the Kenya National Union of Teachers (Knut) remained unresolved, TSC has directed parents to take their children back to school today, January 3, 2019.

“Teachers will be available to attend to learners. Once again time has come for us to stop anybody from using Kenyan children as human shield. That time is now,” said Nzomo.

She said the decision was reached on Wednesday by the board after a day long meeting at TSC headquarters at upper hill offices to ensure learning is not disrupted by the teachers strike.

The commission however said that it will fully participate and support any efforts to resolve the current dispute, including the ongoing conciliation meetings, to ensure learning in schools resumes smoothly.

“We appeal to all the teachers to report on duty. The head of institutions must be in their respective stations to ensure quality learning and teaching continues. They must make sure there is no disruption of learning programmes”, she said.

She ruled out closing schools.

“A time has come for us to balance between the rights of employees and those of learners who are the primary clients in the learning process. The commission will not even consider premature closure of schools as an option,” she said.

The commission said the signing of the 2017-2021 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) with Knut was meant to end any disruption of learning.