Kenya: New TSC Rules to Deny Teachers Economic Independence

By Staff writer

Teachers Service Commission (TSC) has proposed new rules as part of the revised Code of conduct and ethics that was presented to key stake holders in the education sector for scrutiny on Thursday May 22.

The rules by TSC barring teachers from airing political opinions and running private business are aimed at increasing productivity at work.

”Teachers all over Kenya have been known to be the most enterprising than any other lot in public service, running most of their businesses during work hour and which must stop.”

However, teachers unions have quickly opposed the move stating that teachers as any other public servants are free to engage in other activities to boost their little income, described as “peanuts and pocket change”.

“Our teachers need to involve themselves in enterprising business activities to supplement their revenue income due to meager salary. And at this moment, the government needs all the help it can get to stabilize the country’s economy that may plunge deep if these rules are to be implemented. ”

This move by the TSC comes a day after Teachers unions of Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT, Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET)) and University Academic Staff Union (UASU), Wednesday held talks aimed at merger to form a strong umbrella that will deal with the government over concerns in the education sector, specifically teachers welfare.

Teachers unions in several African countries such as South Africa and Nigeria have come together to form umbrella unions so as to fight for better working conditions, a drive aimed at forming a continental union to tackle problems facing education systems in the continent.