Teachers who failed to activate TSC email have started to feel the heat after the Commissions latest move.
According to TSC, teachers who never activated their emails will not be able to declare their wealth.
Some teachers who failed to activate emails are worried following this move especially after TSC closed email activation exercise hence locking them out.
“The Declaration can only be accessed by individuals who have activated their official @mwalimu.tsc.go.ke email address. This will be vital for user credibility, setting, accessing and resetting individual passwords for the Declaration as applicable. A copy of the submitted Declaration will automatically be sent to the teacher’s email,” said Nancy Macharia in the circular.
TSC had ordered teachers to activate email in the format @mwalimu.tsc.go.ke latest by 30th April 2021.
All Heads of Institutions and teachers including those on internship were required to activate their email accounts which will be used for all communications to the Commission.
The exercise of activating the emails started on 15th February, 2021 and closed on 30th April, 2021 but it was extended after a number of teachers failed to beat the set deadline.
The official email took the format of the teacher’s name, the last two digits of the TSC number @mwalimu.tsc.go.ke.
In addition to an official personal account, heads of institutions were also required to open a separate head-of-institution email. TSC said this address will be available to subsequent heads of institutions for continuity.
As at 12th May 2021 only 76% of the teachers on TSC payroll had activated their email accounts.
“Teachers email activation stands at 76 % compliance. There is a window for P & P and intern teachers who have not activated to do so in order to receive official communication from TSC,” said TSC early May.
In a circular dated 15th February 2021, TSC said in its 2019-2023 Strategic Plan, it identified Reforms and Innovation in the provision of teaching services as its strategic focus area aimed at improving service delivery to its employees and stakeholders.
In a bulk SMS sent to teachers last night the Commission says the Wealth Declaration exercise will end on 31st December 2021.
“Dear Mrs Kimani, this is to inform you that the wealth declaration exercise is ongoing and will end on 31st December 2021. Access the Declaration of Income, Assessts and Liabilities (DIALs) Instructional manuals on www.teachersonline.tsc.go.ke Avoid the last minute rush, file your declaration early as advised through Circular no. 12/2021 sent to your email,” read SMS sent to Jane Kimani, a teacher in Nyandarua.
The Commission says any declarations made after the midnight of 31st December, 2021 will not go through.
According to Section 26 & 27 of the Public Officer Ethics Act (POEA) all Public Officers are required to declare their Income, Assets and Liabilities (DIALs) every two years. The previous declaration was done in 2019.
According to Circular 12/2021 TSC said any teacher employed by the Commission who fails to submit the declaration or gives false or misleading information will be liable to a fine of Kshs 1,000,000 or be imprisoned for a term not exceeding one year or both upon conviction.
Further, the teacher will be subjected to administrative disciplinary action as per the TSC Administrative Procedures on DIALs.
TSC ordered Heads of Institutions to monitor the declaration progress in their respective institutions and report on non-Compliance by 31st December, 2021.
The Commission said all teachers employed by TSC must declare Income, Assets & Liabilities. These include teachers on:
• Leave of whatever nature
• Interdiction
• Suspension
• Authorized absence of duty
The teachers employer said teachers who have been in employment for a period of less than two years should submit their Initial declarations cause the system has been customized to facilitate this.
Though the Commission said the system will be opened with effect from 1st October, 2021 teachers were unable to declare their wealth till two days ago when the system was activated.
TSC asked teachers to ensure the information filled is accurate and that they ensure they receive a copy of the duly filled declaration in their email as confirmation of successful submission.
The Commission said all sections of the declaration should be filled completely and that incomplete declaration forms will be rejected by the system.
Unlike in the past the Commission said it will not accept any physical (hard copy) form as a confirmation of declaration.
Below is the Wealth Declaration Circular 12/2021 dated 4th October 2021 addressed to all TSC heads of institutions and teachers and copies sent to Regional and County Directors.
ONLINE DECLARATION OF 2019-2021 INCOME, ASSETS & LIABILITIES (DIALs)
Section 26 & 27 of the Public Officer Ethics Act (POEA) requires all Public Officers to declare their Income, Assets and Liabilities (IALs) every two years. The previous declaration was done in 2019.
Consequently, all employees are expected to make their Declaration by 31st December 2021.
I. MODE OF DECLARATION
In order to enhance efficiency, the Commission introduced an online declaration portal. Each employee is expected to fill an online declaration following the steps outlined in the Declaration of Income, Assets and Liabilities (DIALs) Instruction Manual.
II. ACCESSING ONLINE PORTAL
The Declaration Form can be filled and submitted by accessing the Teachers Online Portal through https://teachersonline.tsc.go.ke
Take note that one can access this information using a computer, laptop, lpad or a smart phone.
Ill. INSTRUCTION MANUAL
A “Do-it-yourself” instruction manual has been provided and is available on the TSC website https://teachersonline.tsc.go.ke under the Download Manual link, immediately next to the Declaration link. One can complete the Declaration process by following the prompts in the form after logging in.
IV MONITORING OF THE DECLARATION
All Heads of Institutions are required to update the TMIS records for their respective schools by 15th September, 2021 to enhance efficiency and accountability of the DIALs process.
Heads of Institutions are also required to monitor the declaration progress in their respective institutions and report on non-Compliance as reflected in Part B in the DIALs Instruction Manual by 31st December, 2021.
V ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
(a) Employees who have been in employment for a period of less than two (2) years are expected to submit their Initial declarations and the system has been customized to facilitate this.
(b) All teachers employed by TSC are required to declare their Income, Assets & Liabilities. These include teachers on:
• Leave of whatever nature
• Interdiction
• Suspension
• Authorized absence of duty
(c) Any teacher employed by the Commission who fails to submit the declaration or gives false or misleading information will be liable to a fine of Kshs 1,000,000 or be imprisoned for a term not exceeding one year or both upon conviction.
Further, the teacher will be subjected to administrative disciplinary action as per the TSC Administrative Procedures on DIALs.
(d) The Declaration can only be accessed by individuals who have activated their official @mwalimu.tsc.go.ke email address.
This will be vital for user-credibility, setting, accessing and resetting individual passwords for the Declaration as applicable.
A copy of the submitted Declaration will automatically be sent to the teacher’s email.
Ensure that:
(i) The information filled is accurate.
(ii) You receive a copy of the duly filled declaration in your email as confirmation of successful submission.
(iii) All sections of the declaration are filled completely. Incomplete declaration forms will be rejected by the system.
The Commission will not accept any physical (hard copy) form as a confirmation of declaration.
Teachers are encouraged to make their Declarations early to avoid last minute rush that may lead to system congestion or downtime.
The system will be opened with effect from 1st October, 2021 to midnight of 31st December 2021 to facilitate the exercise.
Note that declarations made after the midnight of 31st December, 2021 will not go through.
Guidelines for the Declarations will be available in the TSC Website.
DR. NANCY NJERI MACHARIA, CBS
SECRETARY/CHIEF EXECUTIVE