Members of Parliament (MPs) are currently advocating for the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) to reinstate the teacher delocalization policy, which entails assigning teachers to employment positions located far from their home counties. This appeal was made public on Tuesday when TSC CEO Dr. Nancy Macharia appeared before the National Assembly’s Constitutional Implementation Oversight Committee to respond to inquiries concerning teacher recruitment, promotions, and deployment nationwide.
Macharia encountered scrutiny regarding the inequalities in teacher distribution among sub-counties during the processes of recruitment and promotions. She defended the Commission’s methodology, clarifying that teacher deployment is based on principles of equity and necessity.
She apprised the legislators that it was Parliament that had previously enacted a motion mandating the TSC to return newly recruited teachers to their home sub-counties. “You are the lawmakers. We allocate teachers where there are shortages. However, due to public pressure, Parliament mandated that teachers be assigned to their local areas, and we complied,” she stated.
MPs supported the notion of local recruitment coupled with national deployment to enhance equal opportunities and nurture national unity. “Let recruitment be local, but deployment be national. This way, we can democratize opportunities across the board,” they contended.
The teacher delocalization program was an initiative launched by the TSC that assigned teachers to work in schools located outside their home counties, commencing with classroom teachers in 2016, followed by headteachers and principals.
However, the Kenya Kwanza government subsequently abolished the program, and on January 25, 2023, National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula declared the delocalization policy unlawful due to the absence of parliamentary approval.
In response, the TSC annulled the policy and initiated the process of transferring teachers back to their home counties. At the regional level, teachers can be reassigned between counties within the same region, governed by the TSC Regional Directors. Nationally, TSC transfer boards oversee the authorization of transfers for teachers wishing to relocate to counties outside their designated regions.
Last year, the Commission disseminated 11,843 transfer letters to counties following the approval of requests from delocalized teachers that had been pending.
The transfer policy ensures that an adequate replacement is available at the teacher’s current station and that a vacancy exists at the desired location prior to approving a transfer request. Before the finalization of a transfer, the TSC confirms that appropriate vacancies, replacements, and a balanced distribution of staff are in place.
Former Education CS Mr. Ezekiel Machogu, during his appearance in Parliament in June, noted that in the execution of its mandate to transfer and post teachers, the TSC “must ensure equitable distribution and optimal utilization of teachers in all public basic education institutions to ensure that learners throughout the country have access to quality education as required by Article 43 of the Constitution. ”
“Teachers who wish to be considered for transfer from one institution to another must submit a request. The transfer of teachers from one institution to another will be guided by the need for equitable distribution and optimum utilization of teachers,” the former CS remarked.
Other transfer criteria encompass the availability of vacancies at the proposed station, the necessity for replacement, existing staffing norms, medical considerations, or other factors that the TSC may deem relevant.
Delocalized teachers may verify the status of their applied transfers through the online TSC transfer application portal.
Teachers who have been successful must visit their TSC County offices to collect their transfer letters and report to their new station in January.
To minimize disruptions to school activities, the Commission approves the transfer of delocalized teachers solely in December.
TERMS RELATED TO TSC ONLINE TRANSFER YOU SHOULD KNOW
Pending: This status is displayed once the teacher’s application has been successfully submitted and is awaiting feedback from the respective supervisors.
Acknowledged: This status is shown if the teacher qualifies for transfer and is pending the availability of a vacancy and/or an appropriate replacement for the teacher.
Not Approved: This status indicates that the teacher’s request has been regrettably denied. This applies if the teacher has not fulfilled the conditions established by the transfer policy, such as not having served in the current station for a minimum of five years since the initial appointment, the absence of a suitable replacement, or the lack of a vacancy.
Approved: This status is displayed once the transfer committee has accepted the teacher’s transfer request. Consequently, the teacher’s transfer letter is issued through the Principal for post-primary institutions and through the County Director for primary schools.
When a transfer request is withdrawn, it simply indicates that it was either unsuccessful or was approved, allowing for the submission of a new request.