Claims that 25,000 teachers were promoted, benefiting new recruits, are being investigated by the senators.
Legislators have joined members of the National Assembly in demanding an investigation into suspected unfair promotions made by the Teachers Service Commission (TSC). The State body has been described as the “headquarters of corruption” by lawmakers, who are also calling for a shakeup of its leadership.
With respect to the distribution model used to promote the 25,252 instructors, the legislators want the TSC to justify the rationale behind it, especially in relation to counties that have a high population density but get less exposure.
The announcement comes shortly after uproar over the promotions from various sources, with legislators accusing the State agency of employing unclear promotional standards and breaking equity principles.
In contrast to past practices and disregarding demographic trends, MPs contended that the promotions unduly favored specific regions and excluded deserving candidates in other areas.
The senators now seem to be reading from the same script as their counterparts in the National Assembly, demanding inquiries into the advancements.
Kisii Senator Richard Onyonka raised the alarm, claiming that TSC should be put under pressure to demonstrate that the standards used to select teachers for promotion across different counties adhered to the tenets of merit, equity, and inclusivity.
Lawmakers are requesting the TSC to provide information on whether a complaint redress and appeal mechanism was established for the instructors who believed they were wronged by this promotion process, as well as the number of complaints the TSC has received and how many it has handled so far.
“The Education committee must ask and tell this House why, during the exercise, long-serving teachers with higher academic credentials and graduates were either bypassed while younger teachers with fewer qualifications and years of experience were promoted, and if so, the explanation for the same,” said Mr Onyonka.
The committee, which will be chaired by Betty Montet, the nominee senator, will also be responsible for directing the TSC to elaborate on the steps it is taking to foster transparency and accountability in order to address the long-standing problem of teachers’ career stagnation.
The State agency was referred to by nominated Senator Esther Okenyuri as “the headquarters of corruption.”
She alleged that certain corrupt authorities in the TSC seek bribes from teachers who are already in a bad situation in order for them to be promoted.
“We have instructors who have been in the service for more than 17 years but were not promoted in the recently concluded exercise,” said Ms. Okenyuri.
In contrast, we have teachers who have only worked for a year before being promoted. Benjamin Burombo, a trade unionist, put it this way. “When I am fighting for African rights, the other hand is busy keeping away Africans who are fighting me,” she continued.
The legislator urged a change in the agency’s leadership, claiming that the teachers’ employer is fundamentally rotten.
“I mention TSC and point out that some of their officers have, in fact, remained in their positions for too long. I’m concerned that a reshuffle won’t make a difference because the culture is the same. According to the senator, that culture permeates all levels of society, from the national level to the grassroots.
“I’m aware that corruption will always retaliate, but we will not give up on this matter. “This is because teachers need support and adequate compensation to stay motivated to continue providing their services to Kenyans,” she continued.
Ms. Okenyuri’s views were supported by Nandi Senator Samson Cherargei, who said the TSC is “the headquarters of corruption and they should be called to order.”
“Additionally, there was a lot of political favoritism (during the promotions). It is claimed that TSC has entrusted its recruiting efforts to outside organizations, such as political parties, and that these organizations must be held accountable.
Some teachers’ unions have expressed concerns about the promotions, alleging that the policy mandates at least three years before a teacher is eligible for promotion, yet some teachers with only six months of experience have been promoted.
Principals also disagree with the process, claiming that the TSC’s quota system for teacher advancement discriminated against areas with more qualified instructors.
Regardless of the uproar over the promotions, TSC chief executive officer Nancy Macharia has maintained that the procedure was carried out in accordance with the law and was decentralized to guarantee representation from across the nation.
