The Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) has urged the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) to be fair and considerate in the recruitment process of teachers in the country. This is amid uproar over the recent promotion of 25,000 teachers.
Addressing the press on Saturday, April 19, the KNUT Secretary General Collins Oyuu said that the commission should prioritise recruiting teachers who completed their college education earlier than recent graduates.
"The commission must be fair and human. The idea of picking on a teacher who completed teachers college in 2023 and leaving those who completed college in 2010 leaves more questions than answers," he said.
"And as a union, we must state categorically that even in employment, you must be very fair, because we have teachers who are over 50 years old; where will they go? Because they are still out there, they must be employed," he said.
The SG has further said that the political class should respect the independence of the commission, which he noted has lagged in executing its mandate, and refrain from interfering with the recruitment of teachers in the country. The plea follows revelations that the State House has been involved in influencing the promotion and recruitment of teachers, against the laws that provide TSC with the sole mandate of hiring and managing teachers.
"The Teachers Service Commission, to some level, has abdicated its role and co-function of employment of teachers," he said.
"We cannot object to the executive powers of the president of this country to employ teachers, but how these forms are distributed by some politicians leaves some questions, yes, you can assist, but you must be fair," he said.
Oyuu's sentiments come days after the union also called for the immediate release of the Ksh64 billion accumulated capitation funds to support the already struggling education sector.
KNUT stressed that the delay in these funds has been a major block to institution heads from smoothly running and managing schools effectively.
Speaking on Monday, March 3, Oyuu noted that the delay is the primary reason why some heads of institutions are opting to send students home even before the official closing dates.
"Why must capitation drag? How do you expect heads of institutions to manage schools? Because you cannot use your own money to go and manage schools. At times when we hear heads of institutions and principals getting learners to go home early or for some time, we know the reasons," he stated.
"It is dangerous to keep learners in schools without capitation. And for those heads who are wise enough to avoid strikes in schools, I think they are doing their best," he added.
