Primary school headteachers have been invited to attend the 17th Annual Delegates Conference (ADC) scheduled to take place in October this year.
According to invitation letter written and addressed to primary school headteachers, Johnson Nzioka who is also the National Chairman for Kenya Primary Schools Headteachers Association (Kepsha) said the conference will start on 2nd October and end on 8th October 2021.
Nzioka further said this years conference will take place at the usual Sheikh Zayed Children Welfare Centre in Mombasa.
This years conference under the theme “Access to Learning During Post Covid-19 Pandemic” is expected to address challenges in education brought by the Coronavirus and the available opportunities for teachers and learners.
However school headteacher are required to make a payment of kshs 46,000 to facilitate their participation out of which kshs 6,000 is be remitted to the respective Sub County Chairperson as Conference fee.
“To facilitate your participation you need Kes 46,000 out of which Kes 6,000 should be remitted to the respective Sub County Chaipersons as Conference fee. The deadline for making payment is 15th September 2021,” said Nzioka.
Kepsha officials affected by delocalization will remain in their respective positions until advised by the National Office, said Nzioka.
The Kepsha Chairman has been calling for vaccination of teachers especially the aged ones in a proposal issued some months ago.
“Kepsha has lost members to the coronavirus that has continued to ravage the education sector and the country at large with a massive and unprecedented impact on families,” said Nzioka.
The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) which is also expected to take part in the upcoming conference has already issued a directive for teachers to get a vaccine by 23rd August 2021.
According to TSC teachers will be subjected to disciplinary (unspecified) action for failing to get the jab by Monday next week.
Teachers who fail to get vaccinated put their health and that of others at risk, TSC said.
In a circular released this week TSC ordered for immediate vaccination of all teachers by Monday 23rd August 2021.
This comes after TSC released a report that showed only 178,734 teachers have been vaccinated since the exercise was launched.
TSC report also says 110,342 teachers have received full dose and that it targets to vaccinate all 330,671 teachers on TSC payroll.
In the circular directed to all school heads TSC CEO Dr. Nancy Macharia says it is imperative for teachers to get vaccinated as per the government circular Ref. No. OP/CAB.1/12A dated 5th August 2021.
Nancy Macharia says there is an upsurge of positivity rate and increasing numbers of Covid-19 infections across the country that necessitates immediate response to curb the increasing numbers.
Macharia attached a copy of a circular sent to all civil servants dated 5th August 2021 which directed them to be vaccinated by 23rd August 2021 deadline or face disciplinary action.
TSC in its statement yesterday said it will go by the circular which settles on disciplining those who fail to get the Covid-19 vaccine.
According to the Head of Public Service, Joseph Kinyua, there have been low uptake of COVID-19 vaccines among public servants especially the security sector, teachers and the core civil service.
Kinyua said the low uptake of Covid vaccine is a deliberate move by a section of workers so that they can stay away from work under the guise of working from home.
Following the claims government has escalated its Covid-19 vaccination exercise among government workers.
According to Kinyua all government workers will be given first priority to get a Covid jab by 23rd August.
“It has therefore been decided that all civil servants will be priotized in the ongoing vaccination exercise and that those who will not have been given the 1st jab by 23rd August, 2021 be treated as discipline cases and appropriate action taken against them. Principal Secretaries/Accounting Officers are hereby instructed to ensure full implementation of this decision,” said Kinyua in a statement addressed to all PS’s.
Teachers have been urged to go for Covid-19 vaccines following fears that schools may be susceptible to the virus.
TSC OFFICIAL CIRCULAR TO ALL SCHOOL HEADS
COVID-19 CONTAINMENT MEASURES
Following the upsurge currently being witnessed in the positivity rate and increasing numbers of Covid-19 infections across the country, it is imperative that you mop up teachers and officers under your respective jurisdiction to get vaccinated as per the government directive vide circular Ref. No. OP/CAB.1/12A dated 5th August 2021. (Attached for your attention)
You are further directed to bring to the attention of all officers and teachers the contents of the attached circular.
DR. NANCY NJERI MACHARIA
SECRETARY/CHIEF EXECUTIVE