Kenya’s Teachers Service Commission (TSC) on Wednesday (February 4th) ruled out the possibility of a mass transfer of teachers posted to north-eastern schools, Kenya’s Daily Nation reported.
TSC chairperson Lydia Nzomo said the commission could not transfer the teachers out of Mandera, Garissa and Wajir counties all at once.
“If transfers have to be done, they will be gradual, the teachers have to apply for a transfer through their school heads, then we will handle each case, not all of them as a group,” she said.
Nzomo’s comments came in response to teachers’ protests over the TSC’s orders that they return to work in the three counties immediately or face termination.
“More than half of the teachers based in north-eastern have returned. We are having a problem with a few from Mandera County, who I urge to go back since the government has assured them of security in these regions,” she said.
TSC chief executive officer Gabriel Lengoiboni took a harder line, saying the TSC would not process any transfer requests from teachers until they returned to their workstations. In a statement, Lengoiboni indicated any disciplinary action by the commission can only be initiated once action has been taken by the affected schools, Kenya’s Capital FM reported.
“Any teacher who may still wish to report after the expiry of the February 2, 2015, deadline should contact the respective head of institution who will in turn seek the advice of the county or sub-county directors,” he said.
Lengoiboni said the commission would not issue any interdiction or transfer letters from the TSC headquarters.
