Long-serving teachers in Busia county have pledged to mentor younger colleagues to prepare them for leadership and ensure smooth succession, even as experienced educators exit the profession.

The teachers, through the Dr. Anyang Teachers Mentorship Forum, said they would complement the Teachers Service Commission’s Teacher Induction Mentorship and Coaching (TIMEC) programme by supporting teachers new to the profession to develop professionally.

They also urged young teachers to pursue growth opportunities within and outside the teaching profession, saying their skills could be applied in various sectors.

TSC Commissioner Dr. Nichodemus Anyang commended teachers who have undergone mentorship through the forum and subsequently secured leadership positions in recent appointments.

He was speaking in Amagoro, Teso North, during the recognition of mentee teachers from the area who, alongside others across the country, secured Assistant Director and Principal Teacher Management Officer (PTMO) positions competitively in the recent recruitment exercise.

“These officers have been inducted by both the Kenya School of Government and the TSC and have been our mentees whom we want them to go out and serve the public better,” he said.

Dr. Anyang said the mentorship forum had helped teachers identify and pursue opportunities, urging them to continuously prepare themselves for leadership roles and remain competitive whenever opportunities arise.

“Teachers should be keen on growth opportunities that might arise in various sectors. You know the teaching profession fits in any sector, whether it is the Ministry of Education, Ministry of Youth and other areas,” he said.

The Chairperson of the Mentorship Forum, Judith Itubo, who is also the Chief Principal of St. Monicah Chakol Girls Senior School, said mentorship was important in helping newly recruited teachers understand the demands of the profession.

Itubo said long-serving teachers had a responsibility to guide younger colleagues on professional conduct and career development in line with the TSC Code of Regulations.

She said teachers who receive mentorship were more likely to remain motivated, perform better and progress in their careers because they had colleagues to guide them when they encountered challenges.

“When interviews are conducted for career progression, they look at what you have been doing since you were posted to a certain school and many other factors. If there is nobody to show you what is expected of you, you can easily get lost along the way,” she said.

Itubo said experienced teachers had themselves benefited from the guidance of their seniors when they joined the profession, making mentorship an important part of preparing the next generation of teachers.

Board member of the Mentorship Forum, Moffat Okisai, said the programme had also contributed to a reduction in cases of indiscipline among teachers in the area.

He said the forum would continue supporting younger teachers as they navigate the demands of the profession and prepare for greater responsibilities.

by Moses Wekesa