TSC warns school heads who have rejected transfers

Nakuru County’s Burgei Primary School parents and pupils protest Tuesday against Government’s move to transfer the institution’s headmaster. They shut down the school and vowed to reject a new headmaster. [PHOTO: BONIFACE THUKU/STANDARD]

By RAWLINGS OTIENO and MAUREEN ABWAO

Kenya: Teachers Service Commission (TSC) will take disciplinary action on teachers who reject transfers.

The teachers’ employer issued a warning to head teachers and deputy school heads, who will fail to report to their new stations that they will be stripped of their positions.

TSC yesterday said although most of the heads transferred last year had reported to their new workstations, some had resorted to inciting learners, parents and community members to hold demonstrations as a way of revoking the transfers.

TSC Secretary Gabriel Lengoiboni warned that those heads who will not report by tomorrow to their new stations will face disciplinary action.

“Those who fail to hand over or take over will be dropped from headship with immediate effect and their positions filled with those who have already been interviewed for headship positions,” warned Lengoiboni.

Last December, TSC approved 585 transfers and deployments of principals and deputies in secondary schools and other post primary institutions.  The commission has ordered TSC county directors to ensure all those issued with transfer and deployment letters take up their new postings, failure to which disciplinary action, including interdiction, will be taken.

TSC also directed county directors to effect changes in the headship of primary schools where it was necessary. Lengoiboni said the transfers and deployments were effected after exhaustive consultations with relevant stakeholders.

He said TSC is a sovereign commission under the Constitution, and should not be subjected to control by any party.  “Whereas the commission is mandated to manage teachers’ affairs by the Constitution, it is committed to dialogue in execution of its mandate,” said Lengoiboni in a press statement.