Teachers in Trans Nzoia county have demanded for a public apology from the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) following the introduction of a new module refresher course system. They believe that the refresher modules will make them appear unskilled despite undergoing previous training.
The teachers who spoke under their Kenya Union of Post Secondary Education Teachers (KUPPET) stated that the move by Teachers Service Commission was insulting. They said that the move will make them appear ill-trained yet all professionals are trained by them.
“Teachers churn out professionals in the country. We should not be subjected to the periodic refresher training system that makes us appear like quacks. We oppose this system,” Eliud Wafula Trans Nzoia KUPPET chairman said.
KUPPET secretary, Lusweti Furaha, called upon all Kenyans of goodwill to join them in opposing the new refresher module.
“You cannot subject teachers to this forced training and further expect them cater for the training’s payment. There are trainings that they have undertaken out of their own will and that the commission is yet to recognize,” Lusweti said.
The plan to have the programme running during school holidays will interfere with the plans of the delocalized teachers to travel and be with their families and can have a negative impact on those families.
“TSC is breaching the social norms that may lead to destruction of families. Teachers will now lack time for their spouses and children due to a shift of focus on the training system introduced by the Commission,” union official Immaculate Cheserem said.
The teachers maintained that they will not participate in the refresher modules unless TSC will cater for the costs and increase the salary of teachers upon completion of every module. They also recommended that the TSC should pay training allowances for each module.
Maxwell Nyangeri, KUPPET Treasurer, said that TSC should subject the new training system to new teachers and exempt the ones who are already in the system since some are nearing retirement.
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