Call for Clear and Merit-Driven Teacher Recruitment and Advancement Intensifies
Educational stakeholders in Kakamega County, encompassing parents and educators, are urging the government to prioritize merit in the recruitment, promotion, and deployment of teachers. They are convinced that emphasizing merit will assist in rectifying regional disparities in teacher-to-student ratios and enhancing the overall quality of education in the nation.
The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) has been urged to rigorously follow legal guidelines during the recruitment of teachers to prevent political interference, which many claim has increasingly complicated the process.
A recent promotion activity involving 151,611 teachers ignited intense debates in the National Assembly. Lawmakers condemned the process, bringing attention to issues of favoritism and irregularities within the TSC.
Members of Parliament on the Education Committee highlighted that the commission appeared to favor newly recruited teachers over those with greater experience. They also observed an uneven allocation of promotion opportunities, with certain counties receiving significantly more than others.
According to these MPs, “teachers who scored 80 percent in interviews were promoted over those who scored 100 percent. ” They further accused TSC CEO Nancy Macharia and board chairman Jamleck Muturi of presenting false documents, insisting on a transparent reassessment of the promotion standards.