TSC opposes bid to stop hiring 70,000
Teachers Service Commission (TSC) Chairperson Lydia Nzomo listens to questions from journalists during a media briefing held at TSC offices in Nairobi, on September 9, 2015. TSC has opposed an application seeking to stop it from recruiting 70,000 teachers. PHOTO | SALATON NJAU | NATION MEDIA GROUP
What you need to know:
- The Commission, through lawyer Fred Ngatia told Labour and Employment Court Judge Nzioki wa Makau that the right to recruit and employ teachers has been conferred to it by the constitution.
- The TUC through lawyer Wilfred Nyamu had filed an urgent application last week and obtained temporary orders stopping the recruitment exercise.
The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) has opposed an application seeking to stop it from recruiting 70,000 teachers.
The Commission, through lawyer Fred Ngatia told Labour and Employment Court Judge Nzioki wa Makau that the right to recruit and employ teachers has been conferred to it by the constitution.
The lawyer, on Monday, explained that TSC’s intention to recruit and employ registered teachers for a period of two to three months is to alleviate a specific shortage and should not be obstructed by the Trade Unions Congress of Kenya (TUC).
The TUC through lawyer Wilfred Nyamu had filed an urgent application last week and obtained temporary orders stopping the recruitment exercise.
In its application, TUC claims that TSC is acting against the Labour court orders issued on September 25, which directed the teachers unions to suspend the strike for 90 days, teachers to resume duties immediately and the Cabinet Secretary for Labour and the two unions to appoint a neutral conciliator to exploit ways of implementing the 50-60 salary award to teachers.
The Court had also directed the TSC not to victimise the teachers who participated in the strike.
“TSC, in total disregard of the directions of the court and instead of embarking on negotiations as directed,’’ has now advertised for the recruitment of relief teachers where they endeavour to employ 70,000 teachers on three months Contract,” lawyer Nyamu said.
