TSC Updates on Mass Transfers Of Teachers Close to Home
Prior to the start of the new academic year in January, teachers will all be transferred to workplaces close to their homes.
The Sunday Nation reports that TSC will transfer teachers who have been delocalized since 2017 to work in their home counties.
After the incoming administration pledged to end the teachers’ delocalization policy, the Teachers Service Commission has
already received a large number of transfer requests from teachers working outside of their home counties.
The majority of teachers are aware of Dr. Ruto’s pledge to renounce the TSC’s delocalization agenda if he wins the presidency.
President Ruto pledged during his campaign to end the practice of forcing teachers to work outside of their home counties.
TSC now has a plan to post and transfer teachers to work in counties away from their homes.
The DP stated that teachers’ transfers will be done at their convenience and that those who take part will receive hardship pay.
According to TSC latest policy, teachers working in North Eastern region are required to have completed at least three years before they are transferred back to their home counties.
Teachers in other regions are required to work for at least five years before they are considered for transfer to their homes.
Ruto said he will abolish the delocalization policy by the TSC and replace it with a programme that will acknowledge that teachers are a national resource.
He said Teachers will be at liberty to choose the counties and schools they want to work for.
He promised to convert the current Teachers Management Institute to the Kenya School of Education to better manage the learning institutions.
The policy on transfer of teachers is always subject to availability of a replacement as per the Curriculum Based Establishment for secondary schools and staffing norms for primary schools.
A teacher in primary school can be transferred within the county while teachers in secondary schools can be moved to any county.
TSC started to implement delocalization policy in the year 2017. The Commission started posting newly recruited teachers outside their counties.
In 2018 TSC delocalized school heads who had overstayed in same working station and county.
However the policy was slowed and later suspended after protests from teachers unions and other political quarters.
The Commission suspended delocalization policy due to outcries from teachers who are vehemently opposed to it claiming it is tearing their families apart.
However TSC carried mass transfer of teachers in May in an effort to balance its staff. Some of the things Macharia noted the Commission will consider when transfering teachers are; ‘First in, first out factor’ ‘Gender balance where applicable’ and ‘Teacher’s security where applicable‘.
According to TSC the following factors will also be considered during the transfer exercise.
1. The age of the teacher:
Teachers aged 56 years and above will be exempted from the transfer out of the area of their current work stations.
2. Health status:
Teachers with proven cases of terminal illness will be exempt from transfers out of the current sub county of work.
However, the Committee will evaluate each case on its own merit taking into consideration the supporting Medical documents, the availability and accessibility to the appropriate medical facilities amongst other factors in the proposed station.
3. Teachers with Disabilities;
Teachers with disability with the necessary certification will be exempted from transfers outside their current station sub County.
When transferring teachers, priority shall be given to schools within the sub county within the targeted shortage before transferring out of the sub county.
4. Family considerations:
Transfer couples who are employees of the Commission and have formally declared their marital status in the same neighborhood where possible.
5. Length of stay since first appointment:
The teacher must have served in a station for a period of not less than three (3) years and five (5) years for North Eastern and other areas respectively since first appointment; unless otherwise authorized by the Commission Secretary.