Heads of Institutions (HOIs) across the country have praised the Head of State for doing away with the delocalization policy that led to the mass transfer of teachers from their home counties.
The head teachers termed the policy as punitive and that it had led to the deaths of many of their colleagues and even led to the break-up of many families.
The Kenya Primary Schools Head Teachers Association (KEPSHA) Chairperson Johnson NZioka said that doing away with the delocalization policy was the right decision.
He said ahead of the KEPSHA conference which kicked off today at the Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Primary School in Mombasa.
“It has been a major concern among teachers, but we are happy that it has been addressed by the government. We no longer have an issue with delocalization. Somehow teachers are happy where they were posted,” said Nzioka
On his part, the chairperson Fuad Ali said that the teachers were excited that the policy had been abolished.
Deputy National Secretary Gitonga Mugo said that teachers should be the ones to make a decision on where they want to be posted. He said that the policy had affected him when it was implemented in 2018. He revealed that he had been transferred from his home county of Tharaka Nithi to Embu.
He said that according to the policy guidelines, he was supposed to have been transferred to a school that is equivalent to his previous one in terms of infrastructure. However, he revealed that he had been transferred to a school that was at a much lower level.
“Delocalization is bad when done en-mass. If it is done at an individual level, with those that are willing, then there is no problem. Those that have been delocalized have had a taste of both the good, the bad and the ugly side of it,” he said.
He also revealed that some teachers do not want to teach in their home areas.
He teaches at Reverend King Boarding Primary School.
“This is due to the advantages they find out there. The majority generally want teachers to make their choice; those willing to go back to their home counties should be allowed. We buried some teachers because the policy did not look at the health of the individuals,” he said.
According to Mugo, the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) should hear the concerns of teachers on why they are running away from hardship areas and ensure their safety.
He said that if the safety of teachers is addressed, teachers will no longer fear going to some areas.
President Ruto is set to officially open the conference tomorrow alongside other speakers consisting of Education Cabinet Secretary Ezekial Machogu, TSC Chairperson Jamleck Muturi and the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (KICD) Chief Executive Officer Charles Ong’ondo.
Teachers also welcomed the decision to have junior secondary school hosted in primary schools.
Nzioka said that primary schools have the capacity of accommodating students in junior secondary school (grades 7 to 9).
In his view, the decision will help the government to reach the 100 per cent transition of this year’s class 8 candidates.
Regarding the Presidential Working Party of Education Reforms, Nzioka said praised President William Ruto and said that it will lead the education sector in the right direction.
“We also thank the Teachers Service Commission for announcing the employment of 30,000 new teachers, which will alleviate the shortage we have been experiencing. That has been our prayer, which has been finally answered,” he added.