Teachers' union raises alarm over 'back door' delocalisation tactics
By Lucy Mumbi |
The delocalisation policy, which began in 2018, sought to transfer teachers from their home counties and relocate those who had overstayed in one region.
The Kenya National Union of Teachers (Knut)has raised concerns that the delocalisation policy, which was halted in 2022, is being reintroduced covertly.
This comes after revelations that teachers are being required to accept transfers in exchange for promotions, a move the union believes is an indirect continuation of the controversial policy.
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The delocalisation policy, which began in 2018, sought to transfer teachers from their home counties and relocate those who had overstayed in one region.
However, after widespread protests from unions and teachers, the government was forced to reverse it.
Now, Knut claims that the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) is attempting to bypass the suspension of the policy through promotion conditions.
In a statement made during the delegates' conference in Mombasa, Knut Secretary-General Collins Oyuu expressed alarm over the growing trend of teachers being promoted only on the condition that they serve in specific areas.
“The government has set up an extra Sh1 billion for promotion. The TSC boss has not mentioned it, but we do not want it to be a way into delocalisation through the back door,” Oyuu said.
He added that teachers should be promoted within their current locations, warning that promotions should not come with the expectation of relocation.
“You are a teacher in Mombasa, let the position be advertised in Mombasa so that you are promoted here,” Oyuu said.
Another key issue raised by Oyuu was the practice of teachers being appointed to acting positions beyond their job group.
Knut argued that such appointments place teachers at a disadvantage, as they are often overlooked when the positions are permanently filled due to their lower job group.
“Teachers have been awarded acting positions, but you cannot act in a position where your grade is not near the grade required for that capacity, and the acting cannot exceed six months,” Oyuu said.
Despite these concerns, TSC boss Nancy Macharia expressed confidence that any issues raised would be addressed through dialogue.
Speaking at the conference, she reassured stakeholders that all matters would be handled amicably.
Regarding the Grade 9 transition, the Ministry of Education and TSC stated that they were fully prepared for the changes.
"Due to cordial industrial relations between the commission, the union, and other stakeholders, we have retooled over 300,000 teachers to equip them with requisite content, skills, competencies, values, and attitudes to implement the new curriculum," Macharia said.
Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba, through a speech read by Coast Region Education Director Joseph Mithamo, also reassured the public that Sh17.6 billion had been allocated for the construction of Grade 9 classrooms, which are expected to be ready by the time schools reopen in January 2025.
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