TSC to help rehabilitate alcoholic teachers in Embu

A drunken man sleeps under a bus. The TSC has embarked on a rehabilitation programme for drunken teachers in Embu County. PHOTO/FILE

By  Charles Wanyoro

What you need to know:

  • Six teachers suffering from severe drunkenness have been taken for rehabilitation
  • About 100 others are being counselled at the divisional level.
  • Teachers mostly affected by alcoholism are in primary schools especially in Mbeere.
  • TSC is working to tackle issues of indiscipline amongst teachers especially defilement and improper dressing.

The Teachers Service Commission in Embu County has embarked on an ambitious programme to rehabilitate teachers hooked by alcoholism.

TSC county director Lillian Mwangi said her office had already taken six teachers suffering from severe drunkenness for rehabilitation at Mathare hospital while about 100 others were being counselled at the divisional level.

Speaking at the Embu University College during the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the institution and Knut, Ms Mwangi said they were working to improve the teachers’ wellbeing.

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The MOU will see teachers and their spouses get a 16 per cent tuition waiver.

She said most of the teachers affected by alcoholism were in primary schools especially in Mbeere.

AFFECTED EDUCATION STANDARDS

This she said, affected education standards due to absenteeism and some staff teaching while under the influence of alcohol.

Ms Mwangi said her office had formed psycho-social therapy groups where those facing mild to chronic alcoholism are offered counselling by professionals to help them recover.

The affected teachers are then helped to overcome any other underlying challenges facing them by talking to their families and friends.

“Many of them have underlying problems like chronic illnesses. When we counsel them, we help them improve their lives.

We have already sent six teachers to a three-month rehabilitation programme to help them overcome alcoholism.

They are then taken to schools where the head-teachers can help them recover. We want teachers to offer their best services,” said Ms Mwangi.

TEACHERS' INDISCIPLINE

She added that TSC was working to tackle issues of indiscipline amongst teachers especially defilement and improper dressing.

“Teachers are not supposed to skip work over lack of fare or be locked out of their homes for failure to pay rent, which may affect the quality of education. Teachers must behave like professionals,” said Ms Mwangi.

She said tackling alcoholism, drug abuse and indiscipline was a major factor to improving performance.

“We are also working hard to improve performance through constant appraisals through our career developers. We want our teachers to offer their best for the benefit of the children,” said Ms Mwangi.

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