TSC allows delocalized teachers to transfer back home after 5 years of service.
The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) is transferring delocalized teachers who have completed at least five years of service back to their home counties.
A number of teachers who applied for inter county transfers have received transfer letters this term even without getting partners to swap with.
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Teacher transfers is captured in clause 64 of the Code of Regulations for Teachers (CORT).
The policy on transfer of teachers is always subject to availability of a replacement as per the Curriculum Based Establishment for secondary schools and staffing norms for primary schools.
A teacher in primary school can be transferred within the county while teachers in secondary schools can be moved to any county.
TSC started to implement delocalization policy in the year 2016. The Commission started posting newly recruited teachers outside their counties.
However this batch can now sigh with relief as the employer now allows them to connect with their families through transfers back home.
In 2018 TSC delocalized school heads who had overstayed in same working station and county.
However the policy was slowed and later suspended after protests from teachers unions and other political quarters.
Last month the Commission initiated a mass transfer exercise countrywide.
TSC CEO Dr Nancy Macharia had ordered the exercise to transfer and balance staff to start immediately and concluded by 9th May 2022.
In a circular dated 4th April 2022, Macharia said the process of staffing of schools will be guided by ‘staffing norms’ to achieve the optimal utilization of teachers and reduce disparities in teacher distribution.
“Despite numerous efforts by the Commission to address teacher shortages across the country, the situation is always compounded by irregular teacher distribution thereby, creating an imbalance that affects delivery of service in the teaching sector.
Further, the teacher staffing imbalance continues to limit the initiative toward the equitable distribution of the teaching Resource. If unchecked, this will adversely impact learning outcomes in our learning Institutions,” said Macharia.
However guided by Teacher Management Information System (TMIS) data sources say the teaching workload for teachers in most schools is above the required number.
Macharia had ordered County Directors to work with their County Directors to undertake teacher rationalization with a view to ensure an equitable re-distribution across the schools.
The Commission has suspended the delocalization policy due to outcries from teachers who are vehemently opposed to it claiming it is tearing their families apart.
However she said priority will be given to teachers who have applied for transfer and are eligible for transfer.
She said incase a teacher meets the criteria for transfer the factors to be considered will be; ‘First in, first out factor’ ‘Gender balance where applicable’ and ‘Teacher’s security where applicable‘.
Macharia outlined the following factors to be considered during the exercise.
1. The age of the teacher:
Teachers aged 56 years and above will be exempted from the transfer out of the area of their current work stations.
2. Health status:
Teachers with proven cases of terminal illness will be exempt from transfers out of the current sub county of work.
However, the Committee will evaluate each case on its own merit taking into consideration the supporting Medical documents, the availability and accessibility to the appropriate medical facilities amongst other factors in the proposed station.
3. Teachers with Disabilities;
Teachers with disability with the necessary certification will be exempted from transfers outside their current station sub County.
When transferring teachers, priority shall be given to schools within the sub county within the targeted shortage before transferring out of the sub county.
4. Family considerations:
Transfer couples who are employees of the Commission and have formally declared their marital status in the same neighborhood where possible.
5. Length of stay since first appointment:
The teacher must have served in a station for a period of not less than three (3) years and five (5) years for North Eastern and other areas respectively since first appointment; unless otherwise authorized by the Commission Secretary.
In cases where teachers meet the criteria for transfer, the Commission will consider:
TERMS RELATED TO ONLINE TRANSFER YOU SHOULD KNOW
Pending: This is displayed once the teacher’s application is successfully delivered awaiting remarks from respective supervisors.
Acknowledged: This is displayed if the teacher is eligible for transfer and awaiting the availability of vacancy and or the teacher’s suitable replacement.
Not Approved: This is same as when the teacher’s request is regretted. This is applicable if the teacher has not met conditions set as per the transfer policy for example having not served in the current station for a period of not less than five years since first appointment, lack of suitable replacement or vacancy.
Approved: This is displayed after the transfer committee approves the teachers transfer request. The teachers transfer letter is then issued through the Principal in the case of post primary institutions and through the County Director in the case of primary school.
