Unions accuse TSC of locking out applicants

By EDWIN MAKICHE and RAWLINGS OTIENO

KENYA: Teachers’ unions have accused their employer of issuing ‘unwarranted’ qualifications to lock out potential applicants in the on-going recruitment of 10,000 tutors.

Kenya National Union of Teachers (Knut) and Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers (Kuppet) opposed the directive by Teachers Service Commission (TSC) that applicants in the on-going recruitment must have a minimum of C+ in the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education exam, irrespective of other higher qualifications they possess.

Knut national chairman Wilson Sossion accused TSC of arrogating itself the roles of Commission of University Education (CUE) and university senates to lock out deserving graduates from employment.

He said TSC had not only overstepped its mandate but also denied a lifeline to Kenyans who had spent a fortune to pursue higher education.

“We want to set the record straight that any graduate of a chartered university qualifies for the recruitment. The TSC directive borders abuse of powers and disrespect for educational institutions in Kenya,” he said.

Chartered varsities

He said chartered universities had syllabuses approved by CUE. Referring to the current recruitment of 10,000 primary and secondary school teachers, Sossion and Kuppet Chairman Omboko Milemba accused TSC of not involving the unions in the recruitment process and termed the move as a very sad situation for thousands of qualified teachers.

“We are completely opposed to the idea of TSC locking out other applicants on the basis of not having scored a C+ and above in KCSE yet they have diplomas and degrees from universities. This is unacceptable,” said Milemba.

Kuppet has now written to TSC to immediately seek a meeting with them to reach an amicable solution so that those with degrees and diplomas who scored C plain in KCSE to be given a chance to apply.