The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) is on the spot after Members of Parliament gave it just seven days to explain the controversial promotion of over 25,000 teachers across the country.
Appearing before the National Assembly Committee on Education on Tuesday, TSC CEO Nancy Macharia faced intense grilling from lawmakers who demanded answers over the criteria used in the recent promotions.
Led by Tinderet MP Julius Melly, the Committee questioned why thousands of teachers have remained stuck in the same job group for years, despite attending several promotion interviews. Shockingly, some regions received nearly equal promotion slots despite having different performance levels and staffing needs.
“Why did you promote some teachers and leave out others who’ve gone for interviews multiple times? We’re not getting answers,” Melly told the TSC officials.
Lawmakers accused the Commission of unfair practices, lack of transparency, and ignoring principles of equity and meritocracy. They directed TSC to submit a comprehensive report detailing how the promotions were conducted and address the disparities flagged.
The committee warned that failure to comply within seven days could lead to contempt charges against the Commission.
“This committee has powers equal to the High Court. You have one week—if you want to appear in camera, write formally. But fairness and justice for teachers must be served,” Melly added.
The backlash stems from promotions done in April, where TSC elevated 5,690 acting head teachers and deputy head teachers, followed by 19,943 others in a second phase. While the Commission said the move was meant to tackle career stagnation, critics claim the process was riddled with bias and lack of accountability.
Teachers’ unions and education stakeholders have also piled pressure on TSC, demanding transparency and equal opportunity for all educators.
https://www.kenyans.co.ke/news/112247-mps-give-tsc-7-days-address-controversies-teachers-promotions#
Why This Story Matters:
Teachers are the backbone of Kenya’s education system. Unfair promotions not only demoralize hardworking educators but also affect learning outcomes. The next seven days could define the future of teacher promotions in Kenya.
