The Teachers Service Commission, TSC, has insisted that calls to revoke the recent transfers are futile as the transferred head teachers and principals have reported to their new stations. This comes even as the Kenya National union of Teachers, KNUT, advised the transferred heads not to report to their new stations. In a press statement released to the media, today, the Commission said the transfers are irrevocable. But, KNUT insists its strike is on and it kicks off tomorrow, 2nd January 2019, ahead of official school re-opening date; 3rd January, 2019.
Here is the press statement by TSC:
“CONCLUSION OF HANDING/ TAKING OVER BY PRINCIPALS AND HEAD TEACHERS
The attention of the Teachers Service Commission is drawn to news reports in both the print and electronic media on the transfer and reporting of and deployment of 3094 heads of institution. A proposal by some parties on the possibility of revocation of and/ or suspension of the transfers has, unfortunately, caused confusion and anxiety among teachers, heads of institution and stake holders. This is at a time when the teachers, heads, parents and learners are preparing for the opening of schools on 3rd January 2019.
It has, therefore, become inevitable for the Commission to clarify 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 new stations for different professional and personal reasons.
A reversal of the transfers would affect their productivity and performance. In some cases, 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 to different working environment and also tap into their vast experience. This is line with policy.
In view of the foregoing, the Commission would like to advise that all the heads of institutions who were either deployed or transferred have handed over and/ or taken over as appropriate. They have also signed the necessary documentation including resource accountability instruments. In this regard, they will be available in their new stations to receive learners on 3rd January 2019 for the commencement of first term learning programmes.”
Attention shifts to KNUT, tomorrow, to see if the strike materializes since the teachers’ employer, TSC, has already threatened to ‘sack’ any teacher who will participate in the strike; and replace them immediately.
