The Teacher Service Commission (TSC) has dismissed claims that there are plans for a mass transfer of teachers countrywide after the national exams are completed.

This comes after news that went viral and was published on The Standard paper that TSC has directed its regional staff to collect and forward data of school heads who have stayed in one station for over nine years so that they can be transferred in April and May when schools will have finished KCPE, KCSE exams.

In a February 26 memo to all Regional Directors, TSC wanted to be furnished with details of primary school headteachers and principals of secondary schools who have exited the teaching service.

However in a statement to newsrooms on Tuesday, the commission said the internal memo that was cited by a local newspaper only sought routine field data on staffing of schools for planning purposes but was not meant to initiate transfers.

“Our attention has been drawn to a story in the Standard of today, 9th March 2021, under the headline TSC sets pace for Fresh round of mass transfers. The TSC wishes to refute the claims made in the story that the Commission plans to conduct a mass transfer of teachers countrywide,” said Rita Wahome, the Director of Staffing.

TSC further stated that its Chief Executive Officer Nancy Macharia announced ahead of the reopening of schools in January 2021 that the commission would not conduct mass transfer of teachers this year owing to the challenges arising from COVID- 19.

Additionally, the congested revised academic calendar leading to national examinations in March was also noted as a reason for not undertaking any transfer of teachers.

The commission said Dr. Macharia assured the country that only those positions left vacant through natural attrition will be filled.

“The Commission, therefore, wishes to assure teachers that the Commission does not plan to effect any mass transfers as alleged in the newspaper story. Teachers must be left to continue conducting their normal teaching duties and conduct the national examinations without any interference,” the statement adds.

The Teacher Service Commission (TSC) has dismissed claims that there are plans for a mass transfer of teachers countrywide after the national exams are completed.

This comes after news that went viral and was published on The Standard paper that TSC has directed its regional staff to collect and forward data of school heads who have stayed in one station for over nine years so that they can be transferred in April and May when schools will have finished KCPE, KCSE exams.

In a February 26 memo to all Regional Directors, TSC wanted to be furnished with details of primary school headteachers and principals of secondary schools who have exited the teaching service.

However in a statement to newsrooms on Tuesday, the commission said the internal memo that was cited by a local newspaper only sought routine field data on staffing of schools for planning purposes but was not meant to initiate transfers.

“Our attention has been drawn to a story in the Standard of today, 9th March 2021, under the headline TSC sets pace for Fresh round of mass transfers. The TSC wishes to refute the claims made in the story that the Commission plans to conduct a mass transfer of teachers countrywide,” said Rita Wahome, the Director of Staffing.

TSC further stated that its Chief Executive Officer Nancy Macharia announced ahead of the reopening of schools in January 2021 that the commission would not conduct mass transfer of teachers this year owing to the challenges arising from COVID- 19.

Additionally, the congested revised academic calendar leading to national examinations in March was also noted as a reason for not undertaking any transfer of teachers.

The commission said Dr. Macharia assured the country that only those positions left vacant through natural attrition will be filled.

“The Commission, therefore, wishes to assure teachers that the Commission does not plan to effect any mass transfers as alleged in the newspaper story. Teachers must be left to continue conducting their normal teaching duties and conduct the national examinations without any interference,” the statement adds.