KNUT begins audit of promoted teachers amid integrity concerns

The Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) has initiated an audit of the recently published list of promoted teachers, citing concerns about integrity.

On Tuesday, the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) released a list of 36,505 promoted teachers to higher grades following interviews completed in January 2024.

However, in a letter dated March 6 and addressed to all executive secretaries, KNUT Secretary General Collins Oyuu directed all the branch secretaries to compile data on all the teachers promoted in their regions.

“Kindly note that teachers applied for different promotions; some were interviewed for the promotions. We have noted with concern that there are so many complaints on this issue after the release of the results,” Oyuu said.

“The purpose of this communication is to request you to compile data on the above issue as per the Zone in your Branch using a template attached herein.”

Oyuu said the information should reach the head office through email address [email protected] by Monday, March 11, 2024.

In addition, the branch secretaries were ordered to collect hard copy written complaints by teachers and forward them to his office for confirmation.

Oyuu questioned why TSC posted the promotion list without giving full details of teachers promoted such as full names.

He noted that without the real names even dead teachers could make it to the merit list.

“Our attention has been drawn to several complaints from teachers regarding which criteria were used in the interviews to award promotions. We are demanding an immediate response or call a meeting with us to address this issue,” he said.

He insisted that publishing teachers' TSC numbers without indicating how many were promoted in every grade and region is questionable.

“It is important we get the criteria. We have teachers who are qualified but are not promoted. Others even appear not to be qualified but have been moved. We are basing our argument on what criteria was used by TSC,” he said.

The majority of the teachers had stagnated in the same job group for years leading to discontent and low morale in the service.

TSC had said teachers above the age of 50, those with proven disabilities, and those who have held acting leadership positions such as head and deputy head of institution would benefit from the promotions.

From the TSC advertisement, the position of Senior Master IV for job group C4 had the highest vacancies totaling 12,932, followed by Senior Teacher II for regular primary school at 11,519 in grade C2 then Senior Teacher I at 3,386 and in group C3.

TSC was also required to promote 1,930 deputy head teachers for regular schools, who are in job group C4 and 1,928 secondary teachers for regular schools.

TSC boss Nancy Macharia said the commission was allocated Sh1 billion in the 2024/25 Financial Year to promote teachers. Some 14,750 teachers were also elevated in the 2022/23 Financial Year.