DP William Ruto defends transfer of principals

Deputy President William Ruto has defended the transfer of headteachers outside their home counties.

The move, he said will cultivate a culture of greater diversity and foster national unity.

He directed the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) to sensitise teachers on the relocations.

“We will also look at the improvements of the teacher’s welfare. TSC is managing a performance contracting process to ensure effective implementation of the curriculum, improve classroom interaction and address persistence absenteeism,” Mr Ruto said.

DELOCALISATION

Teachers had asked TSC to relook into delocalisation policy by allowing expectant teachers to work from their counties until they finish breastfeeding.

Kenya Secondary School Head Teachers Association chairman Indimuli Kahi said delocalisation must have a human face.

“The time span given to change and hand over should be within what is stipulated. You don’t receive a letter today and within three days you are told to hand over. That becomes agonising. Look at our medical history, there are some principals and teachers who have medical problems. Abrupt changing gives them a challenge, look at the spouses, children and parents of teaching professionals who are sick,” Mr Kahi said.

RECRUIT TEACHERS

The principals want their employer to engage them before transferring them to different counties in the delocalisation policy.
Speaking during the official opening of the annual Kenya Secondary Schools Heads Association at the Wild Waters Centre in Mombasa, the DP said the government will allocate funds to recruit teachers in both primary and secondary schools annually.

He also announced that the government will construct 4000 laboratories as he acknowledged existence of challenges in terms of lack of facilities such as laboratories in day secondary schools.

BUILD LABORATORIES
“We will roll out a programme to build 4000 laboratories in some of the most needy schools especially day facilities. Recently the government steered watoto waende shule drive at the Coast to steer secondary school enrolment into maximum levels,” Mr Ruto said.

He lauded Marereni Secondary School in Kilifi for enrolling 520 Form One learners.