Ensure fair teachers’ promotion interviews

• TSC has acknowledged that it is only fair that teachers be given a chance to compete for the limited number of available positions.
• Given that only about half of the 8,300 shortlisted candidates will eventually be promoted, the inevitable stiff competition could open the way for corruption as some interviewees may try to influence the interviewing panels to win the coveted posts.
• The commission should endeavour to appoint reputable panel members from the headquarters to beef up the county teams.

The Teachers Service Commission has invited secondary school teachers to promotion interviews. This is a smart move.

By so doing, the TSC has acknowledged that it is only fair that teachers be given a chance to compete for the limited number of available positions.

This is a sharp departure from what used to happen only a few years ago when promotions were awarded haphazardly, leading to less competent teachers being elevated at the expense of their more qualified colleagues. (READ: Teachers to be promoted)

However, the interview method does not guarantee that the promotion process will be above board.

Given that only about half of the 8,300 shortlisted candidates will eventually be promoted, the inevitable stiff competition could open the way for corruption as some interviewees may try to influence the interviewing panels to win the coveted posts.

Therefore, the commission should endeavour to appoint reputable panel members from the headquarters to beef up the county teams.

Given that the commission only recently appointed new directors to the counties, it is likely that they are inadequately prepared to handle the tough exercise, coming so soon after they complete the ongoing recruitment of 11,000 teachers.

One way out would be for the commission to rotate panels between counties.

More important, the TSC must come up with clear and watertight criteria for awarding marks at the interviews, much the same way it does during the recruitment of new staff.

The results should then be subjected to scrutiny by all parties concerned.

All efforts must be made to ensure that merit reigns. Since promotions are rare and determine the career path of teachers, unethical practices must be kept at bay.