Teachers Get New Changes as TSC CEO Orders Urgent Review

The Teachers  Service Commission (TSC) has considered demands by the unions representing its employees across the country.

TSC boss Nancy Macharia on Thursday announced that the commission had noted concerns raised by teachers over the current performance appraisal system.

Macharia stated that the appraisal system introduced recently shall be reviewed to factor in concerns by primary school teachers and their high school counterparts.

[caption caption="TSC CEO Nancy Macharia consults with KNUT secretary general Wilson Sossion during a meeting (PHOTO/COURTESY)"][/caption]

She ordered the convening of an urgent Kenya Primary Schools Headteachers Association (Kepsha) and Kenya Secondary Schools Heads Association (Kessha) meeting with TSC officials to discuss issues raised by their members over the new performance appraisal requirements.

Macharia instructed Reuben Nthamburi, the director in charge of quality assurance and standards at TSC to hold the meeting with the union officials within the next two weeks to iron out discontent over the appraisals.

She, however, noted that the new policy had helped in the school administration and curriculum delivery noting that some school heads had appreciated its aid in seeking human resource and financial support from the government.

"That notwithstanding, there have been some few emerging issues, we have listened to you and are aware there are areas you want addressed in order to strengthen Performance Contracting and TPAD," Macharia told a Kepsha conference in Mombasa on Thursday.

The policy, which TSC chairperson Lydia Nzomo said is compulsory, is intended to help regulate, improve and set standards for schools across the country.

Kenya National Union of Teachers Secretary General Wilson Sossion had threatened a strike from September 1 if the employer does not abolish the policy and delocalisation of head teachers.

The new development implies that the commission shall only review the policy as opposed to the wholesome withdrawal being demanded by KNUT officials.

President Uhuru Kenyatta had earlier on Wednesday asked the service to review the delocalisation of teachers to ensure that no families are affected by staff transfers.

[caption caption="TSC boss Nancy Macharia (PHOTO/COURTESY)"][/caption]