National

TSC falls short in employing teachers with disability - report

Teachers Service Commission (TSC) headquarters in Nairobi.

By Lucy Mumbi | Saturday, April 13, 2024

The MPs also sought to know the various mechanisms the Commission has implemented to ensure adequate representation of persons with disabilities, women, and minorities within its workforce.

The Teachers Service Commission has failed to meet the requirements of Article 54 of the Constitution in employing people with disabilities in various public secondary and primary schools across the country.

Article 54 of the Constitution mandates the inclusion of at least five per cent of staff in government institutions as people with disabilities.

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However, in a report submitted before the Senate Committee on National Cohesion, Equal Opportunity, and Regional Integration, out of the total 406,860 teachers employed by the Commission nationwide, only 5,666 are persons living with disabilities.

The figure represents a mere 1.39 per cent of the total teaching staff employed by the Commission.

Among the various disabilities, teachers with speech impediments are the least represented, numbering only 40, followed by individuals with multiple disabilities at 43. The figures also highlight the low representation of teachers with mental (104), hearing (389), visual (1,741), and physical (3,349) disabilities.

The committee, chaired by Marsabit Senator Mohamed Said Chute, has been conducting a comprehensive assessment of diversity among employees in various state departments and government agencies, shedding light on areas for improvement and urging swift action to address disparities in employment opportunities.

The report also revealed that the Commission's secretariat consists of 2,943 staff members. Among them, 54 per cent are women, while 46 per cent are men.

However, only 135 members of the secretariat are individuals living with disabilities. This includes 12 with hearing impairments, 8 with mental disabilities, 7 with multiple disabilities, 71 with physical disabilities, 2 with speech impairments, and 35 with visual impairments.

“This represents 4.59 per cent of the Secretariat Staff,” reads the report.

The age distribution of Secretariat staff ranges from 20 years, representing the youngest employee, to 64 years, representing the oldest employee.

The MPs also sought to know the various mechanisms the Commission has implemented to ensure adequate representation of persons with disabilities, women, and minorities within its workforce.

In their response, the Commission noted that through its advertisements for recruitment and promotion positions, it invites and/or encourages persons with disabilities to submit their applications for the positions.

“During recruitment, the Commission utilises a separate score sheet for teachers with disabilities to facilitate fair competition. Further, the Commission allocates five per cent additional vacancies during recruitment for ASAL areas on affirmative action, aimed at targeting underrepresented communities and provides them with increased opportunities for employment within the teaching service,” reads the report.

It added that it has also developed a human resource policies and procedures manual to guide the management of staff affairs, covering recruitment, promotion, training, and other aspects.

Additionally, it has a teacher recruitment and selection policy that underscores fairness in recruitment processes, providing equal opportunities for individuals with disabilities, women, and minorities.

It includes affirmative action principles, such as reserving five per cent of vacancies for teachers with disabilities.