Parliament has been told to make laws that insulate the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) from political interference.

Education stakeholders in Homa Bay County expressed concerns that the TSC has been infiltrated by political operatives, thus frustrating the body from effectively discharging it’s mandate effectively.

Speaking, Saturday, during a public participation exercise convened by the National Assembly Committee on Education at Tom Mboya University in Homa Bay Town, the attendees called for overhauling the education sector.

The exercise was coordinated by the Committee Acting Chairman, Peter Orero.

The Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT), Homa Bay Branch Executive Secretary, Hilder Otieno, expressed concerns that politicians are stripping the TSC of its mandate of employing teachers.

She argued that the trend in which politicians dish-out teacher’s employment letters, is tainting the image of the TSC.

“It is absurd to find politicians dishing-out teachers employment letters in funerals and other public gatherings, yet there is a constitutionally established commission that should employ teachers. We want Parliament to protect the TSC from interference by politicians,” Otieno said.

She said giving politicians teacher employment letters is a recipe injustice in recruitment of teachers.

The official said that politicians lack knowledge of the right criteria for employing teachers.

Otieno said due to the interference, some teachers stay without employment for over ten years after completing their training, while others are employed less than a year after their training.

“Allowing politicians to issue employment letters, leads to recruitment of teachers who do not deserve. It leads to unfairness because a teacher can be employed one year after completing training yet another who completed the training many years ago is left out because of a politician’s interest.” Otieno added.

She said the only remedy was to accord TSC independence in discharging its duties.

The Executive Secretary called for the strengthening of School Equipment Production Unit (SEPU), to discharge its mandate effectively.

She urged the National Assembly to allocated sufficient resources to the SEPU, in order to ensure schools were well equipped.

Other recommendations included; County Commissioners and their Deputies should not chair County Education Boards and Sub-county Education Boards respectively.

The Kibra Legislator, Peter Orero, noted that education stakeholders in the various counties they had visited wanted eminent personalities in the counties, to chair Education Boards.

“Kenyans do not want Government Administrative Officers to chair Sub-county Education Committees, not only in Homa Bay, but in many other counties we have visited. Instead, they want the Board to be chaired by a local resident with vast education sector knowledge and understanding of the County,” Orero said.

During the exercise, there were mixed views with some teachers wanting Junior Secondary Schools to be transferred to secondary schools, while others wanted them to remain in primary schools.

The Kibra MP assured the residents that their views will be given due consideration.

“This Committee respects the views of Kenyans. Be assured that the views given will be given the consideration they deserve.” Orero said.

by Davis Langat