The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) of Kenya has announced that its next teacher recruitment exercise will take place in November. This announcement was made during a World Teachers’ Day build-up event at St. Mary’s Kiangima High School in Embu County. The commission assured the public that the recruitment process will adhere to constitutional procedures.
According to TSC Chair Jamleck Muturi, the commission operates independently, as stipulated in Article 249(2) of the Constitution. He emphasized that the TSC does not receive instructions from politicians or any other individuals regarding teacher appointments. The recruitment process involves advertising vacancies, receiving applications from eligible candidates, conducting interviews, and appointing successful candidates.
Muturi outlined that the appointment letters are not issued by politicians but rather by the commission. He invited the media and the public to visit recruitment and promotion centres to observe the process firsthand, promoting transparency. This move aims to dispel allegations of political interference in the appointment of teachers.
The TSC's announcement comes amid allegations made by National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula. He claimed that some Members of Parliament (MPs) received batches of TSC appointment letters at State House. These letters were allegedly sold or distributed for fees ranging from Sh150,000 to Sh400,000.
In response to these allegations, Muturi reiterated that all teacher appointments are governed by the Constitution of Kenya 2010 and the commission’s policies. He stressed that any applicant must go through the advertised recruitment cycle. The TSC recently conducted a promotion exercise in July, with interviews still ongoing.
The commission noted that the upcoming November recruitment will follow the same advertised procedures as previous exercises. This includes advertising vacancies, receiving applications, conducting interviews, and appointing successful candidates. The TSC aims to ensure that the recruitment process is transparent and merit-based.
The TSC's November recruitment exercise is expected to attract many applicants. With the commission's assurance of a transparent process, candidates are likely to have more confidence in the system. The TSC's efforts to promote transparency and accountability in teacher recruitment are crucial in maintaining public trust.
Key points
- The TSC will conduct its November teacher recruitment exercise following constitutional procedures.
- The commission denies allegations of political interference in teacher appointments.
- The recruitment process will involve advertising vacancies, conducting interviews, and appointing successful candidates.
