Crisis in Turkana schools as TSC moves non-local teachers

Secondary schools in Turkana County are in a crisis after more than 40 non-local teachers were transferred out of the county without replacement.

Schools in the region, a hardship area in Kenya’s north, suffer perennial teacher shortage and the sudden transfers have worsened the situation, almost crippling learning in some learning centres.

Schools affected by the transfers include Lodwar Boys, a national school that has not produced a single straight Grade A since 2015.

County officials from Kenya Secondary Schools Heads Association (Kessha) and Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (Kuppet) have termed the decision by the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) to move the teachers on unclear ground as a disservice to learners in the vast county.

Kessha Turkana chapter branch secretary Nicodemus Ingolan termed the transfers unusual, noting that they happened without suitable plans for replacements.

"Forty teachers have forcefully been transferred to Baringo and Elgeyo Marakwet counties in a manner that has puzzled us. This to us is an act of mercilessly exiting teachers from Turkana without following regular procedure as stipulated in TSC Act of 2012 on transfer of post primary school teachers," Mr Ingolan said in Lodwar town.

He said the decision contravenes the Basic Education Act of 2013 that provides for inclusive and special needs education, as well as directly denying the children of marginalised groups access to quality education.

Some of the affected teachers have already appealed the decision by TSC to transfer them, arguing that they never consented by individually initiating the transfers or sought recommendations from their respective principals.

Ultimatum

Kuppet Turkana Branch Secretary-General Michael Ekitela gave TSC 48 hours ultimatum to address the anomaly of following the correct procedures of transferring and replacing teachers to safeguard the interests of learners or else they hold mega protests in Lodwar town.

"We have been marginalised for too long and now we have a government that is trying to help us. However, we have some individuals at the Rift Valley regional office who want to continue marginalizing us by forcefully removing teachers," Mr Ekitela said.

He said that it was a serious matter because some schools have five teachers of chemistry and biology who have been transferred.

Kuppet Turkana County Chairman Simon Naremo called on the TSC to replace the teachers to address the shortage.

"We will write letters to relevant offices because of the public outcry on behalf of the people of this county and append signatures for lawful action to be taken against individuals in TSC who are promoting injustices in some regions," Mr Naremo said.