Teachers in Kenya face wealth audit in revised rules

NAIROBI: Teachers will now be required to declare the source of their wealth and have their accounts subjected to audits immediately they quit service.

The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) also says no teacher shall act as an agent of any political party or as a contestant.

The tough new rules are contained in the revised Teachers Code of Conduct and Ethics that also seeks to weed out the sex pests among teachers who prey and abuse pupils.

No teacher shall make a request to, or exert pressure on a learner for sexual activity or favour; or flirt with a learner, according to the new rules.

This means that pupils and students will never be sent to teachers living quarters for whatever reason.

Teachers must also not send any child away from school earlier than 6am or later than 12pm except in cases of emergency.

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The new rules also warn teachers against supporting or opposing any political party during elections, and vouches for fair and honest staff who will observe Chapter Six of the Constitution.

"No teacher shall engage in any political activity or campaigns that may compromise or be seen to compromise the dignity of his or her office; or use public or institutional resources for the furtherance of any project for the purpose of supporting a candidate or political party," reads the document.

Those who dip their fingers in public coffers or accept gifts to enrich themselves now have their days numbered. Those who absent themselves from work to run their businesses have been warned.

The Education and Health Services in Kenya - Data for Results and Accountability by World Bank in 2013 cited teachers' absenteeism as one of the problems in the sector.

In the revised code, teachers will now have to account for every hour they spend in schools. They are required to spend all the working hours doing school work and not sneak out to run their businesses.

The document to be launched today during this year's secondary school heads meeting in Mombasa wants all teachers engaged in public service to submit a declaration of their income and assets and liabilities within 30 days of employment.

Wealth declaration

And a final declaration will also be required by the employer within 30 days after a teacher leaves employment.

In the document, TSC warns teachers against using their office to improperly enrich themselves and sets new terms for accepting gifts and donations.

"A teacher shall neither ask for nor accept any property or benefit of any kind, for himself or for any person, on account of anything to be done, done or omitted to be done, by the teacher in the discharge of his or her duties or by virtue of his or her official position," reads the document.

It further says teachers shall not directly or through family members, solicit or accept any gifts, gratuity, hospitality, free passages from any person or any corporate that might reasonably be thought to influence the teacher in the performance of his or her duties.

Teachers unions have, however, dismissed the proposals as overtaken by events and cautioned the employer against micromanaging teachers.