Teachers now risk losing their service numbers should they host students and pupils in their homes or hotel rooms, according to the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) Amendment Bill.
The bill, which is open for public participation, listed over 25 disciplinary incidents that may lead to deregistration or indictment of registered teachers.
According to TSC, the offences range from more serious cases of sexual solicitation, and sodomy, to falsifying documents and hosting students at home.
"The following shall constitute disciplinary offences in the teaching service; sending or hosting learners in teachers’ residences, guest houses, hotels and lodging," read the amended bill in part.
Engaging learners to undertake household chores at teachers’ residences was also classified as a major offence.
Other offences included professional misconduct such as negligence of duty, chronic lateness to duty and chronic absenteeism as well as misconducts including drunkenness, fighting and use of vulgar language.
Submitting forged documents to the Commission to influence decision-making processes and falsifying and altering official documents or data also amount to disciplinary offences.
The bill also stipulates that teachers found guilty of the offences will be issued warning letters, surcharges, suspended for six months, or have their names removed from the register.
Other forms of punishment included forced retirement, dismissal, or termination of membership. The teachers will, however, have a chance to appeal before the tribunal before their names are struck off.
Last week, TSC deregistered 23 teachers following a series of disciplinary cases after they were found guilty of several offences.
The Commission listed the TSC number, case number, the name of the teacher and date of removal in the Gazette notice announcing the decision.
"In exercise of powers conferred by section 30 (1) (e) of the Teachers Service Commission Act, the commission wishes to notify the public that the persons whose names are specified in the Schedule herein below have been removed from the Register of Teachers pursuant to the provision of section 30 (2) of the Teachers Service Commission Act," read part of the notice.
Macharia, however, did not list the stipulated charges the teachers faced.
