TSC wields big stick to punish randy teachers

Technology will be used to help rid schools of teachers who are having sex with learners.

This comes as data released by the Teachers Service Commission showed that Nyanza and Western top the list of provinces with the highest number of sex pests.

Though the number of cases appears to be small at 164 this year, it is an increase of 43 over the previous year.

The 164 cases reported in 2010/2011 were an increase from 121 cases reported in 2009/2010.

A new IT-based system launched yesterday will help TSC to identify and punish the classroom sex offenders.

Speaking in Nairobi during the launch of the Customer Relations Management System, TSC secretary Gabriel Lengoiboni said it will ensure that wayward teachers who are fired do not find their way back to classrooms by getting jobs in private schools.

It will also speed up investigations and conclusion of reported cases.

The system contains details of all teachers employed by TSC, including their names, employment numbers and work stations.

Whenever a complaint on sexual abuse is received against any teacher, the information will be stored in the database.

This will enable TSC handle the complaint expeditiously and take appropriate action, including sacking the culprit or reinstating those found to be innocent.

The outcome of the case will be recorded in the database that will be made available to private schools so they know the character of teachers they want to hire.

“It will ensure that there is no cover-up because previously, we have had complaints made but they never reach the headquarters so no action is taken,” TSC chairman Ibrahim Hussein said.

In the pas, the teachers’ employer has found it difficult to stamp out the vice because culprits sacked from public schools easily got jobs in private institutions.

The commission has also come up with guidelines, including banning release of students from schools at certain specified times.

Teachers are also banned from sending students to their houses for whatever reason.

Most assaults happen when students are stranded or in teachers’ houses, TSC said.

Up to 400,000 copies of the guidelines will be distributed to all schools this month.

Teachers in Nyanza are the leading culprits, with 43 cases reported in 2010/2011, a sharp increase from the 19 cases in 2009/2010.