New Education tribunal to handle teachers complaints
Jacob Kaimenyi, the Education Cabinet Secretary. Teachers and other stakeholders in the education sector can now lodge appeals to the newly formed Education Appeals Tribunal. PHOTO/FILE
Teachers and other stakeholders in the education sector can now lodge appeals to the newly formed Education Appeals Tribunal.
The Ministry of Education has constituted the Tribunal to handle complaints by those dissatisfied with decisions made by educational institutions.
It will listen to appeals from teachers, students, parents, ministry staff, proprietors, sponsors, education SAGAs (Semi-Autonomous Government Agencies), boards of management and school management committees.
The Tribunal already has its work cut out as it will immediately embark on handling a back log of over 3,000 cases.
The backlog arose from the dissolution of the Teachers’ Appeal Tribunal following changes in laws on Education in 2012.
The dissolved Tribunal was previously chaired by the former chairman of the defunct Electoral Commission of Kenya, the late Samuel Kivuitu.
The bulk of the cases are appeals by teachers who are challenging the various disciplinary actions by the Teachers Service Commission (TSC).
Education Cabinet Secretary Prof Jacob Kaimenyi while launching the Tribunal in his Jogoo House office Thursday said the panel will deal with appeals arising from decisions by TSC on its handling of indiscipline among teachers, a function which the defunct Teachers Appeals Tribunal used to handle.
“The Tribunal will hear and determine appeals from stakeholders in education based on all related evidence in the cases,” said Prof Kaimenyi.
The Tribunal will also examine proceedings of the first court or body that listened to the case, listen to all parties adequately and exhaustively in order to make fair decisions and uphold or change the decision of the previous hearing(s).
“You need to observe the rules of cooperate governance, principles of natural justice and observation of impartiality,” Prof Kaimenyi told the Tribunal to be chaired by Mr Erastus Kiugu.
Others members include the TSC Secretary Mr Gabriel Lengoiboni, Ms Margaret Murage, Ms Susan Njau , Mr Waigi Kamau, and Ms Christine Nafula Okoth.
