Teachers Service Commission (TSC) Reviews Transfer Rules For Teachers
The Teachers’ employer (TSC) reviews rules for transfer of teachers employed by the commission.
TSC seems to have revised the rules governing teacher transfer from one station to another.
Following the current ongoing transfers exercise which was intended for balancing staff countrywide, several teachers who had served for less than 5 years were also affected.
According to the TSC circular 2022, the Commission hinted to allow teachers who have served for a period of at least three (3) years since their first appointment to be eligible for transfers.
Additionally the circular stated that tea from the North-Eastern region are in exception. They are required to have served for five (5) years since the date of their first appointment before seeking transfers.
“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 their first appointment; unless otherwise authorized by the Commission’s Secretary,” read part of the Circular.
In the past, teachers were required to serve in a station for a period of at least five years in their current stations before being eligible for transfer.
Further, the in the circular, TSC noted that family matters and transfer of couples who have formally declared their marital status in the same area or county shall be considered if it is possible.
Over years the transfer policy did not consider family matters with married teachers being transferred to far-flung stations making family life very difficult and family reunions only possible during the holidays.
The new 2021-2025 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) that was signed on July 13, 2021, paved way for teachers to reunite with their families while working with the Commission.
“The Commission shall consider transfer requests for married couples to appropriate stations or locations,” read part of the CBA.
This simply meant that teachers could be transferred to schools near their partners, where possible, depending on the availability of vacancies in the proposed station(s), the need for a suitable replacement, the need for equitable distribution and optimal utilization of teachers, existing staffing norms and proof of marriage.
Teachers with proven cases of terminal illness were also considered in the new CBA as well as those who are aged 56 years and above will be exempted from transfers out of their current Sub-County of work.
However, the Commission also directed the Committees that vetted the transfers to ensure that those teachers with terminal illnesses and those with terminal illnesses produce valid documents to prove their cases in order to enjoy their exemption.
The Commission has been dealing with staff shortage for decades. The current teacher shortage stands at 114,581 teachers in primary and post-primary institutions due to the increased enrolment of learners in schools, the one hundred per cent transition policy, natural attrition among teachers and the registration of new schools.
