The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) has set the dateline for acting on teachers transfer requests.
The Commission has set the timelines for approval of transfer requests for teachers within Sub Counties.
According to TSC, Sub County Directors should sit and start to act on transfers requested by teachers in their areas of jurisdiction from 22nd November.
Sub County Director, Human Resource Officer, together with Curriculum Support Officers in each zone in the Sub County will be part of a committee in charge of approving teachers online transfer requests.
The transfers will be approved on priority basis. Teachers who are school administrators will also be considered.
However the team will only deal with transfer requests that have been acknowledged.
Details show that some school heads and their deputies are nearing retirement and there is need to balance out staff.
Some schools are also lacking school heads and deputies. Some have deputies who are only acting as school heads but lack the requirements for confirmation.
Many school heads and deputies have applied to be transferred to new schools early next year.
Transfer letters will be issued in January ahead of school reopening to successful teachers by the Sub County Directors.
Following a motion that quashed TSC recruitment and deployment policy. A teacher can only be transferred within a zone he or she is working.
The motion fronted by Lurambi MP Titus Khamala was passed in Parliament on November 3.
The Commission is yet to issue a new policy guidelines regarding teacher recruitment and deployment.
However for teachers who were delocalized they will be transferred back home. The re-routing will start in January next year.
Below are some of the things TSC will use to consider for transfer requests for teachers.
1. The age of the teacher:
The age of the teacher is one of the factors TSC looks at when considering a transfer request.
Previously teachers aged 56 years and above were exempted from the transfer out of the area of their current work stations.
Due to the end of TSC delocalization policy teachers aged 50 years and above will be in top of priority list when the transfer requests are being considered.
Delocalized teachers in this age bracket are school heads who were transferred out of their county from the year 2018.
There are around 6,078 primary school headteachers and secondary school principals who were delocalized.
2. Health status:
Teachers with proven cases of terminal illness were previously exempted from transfers out of their sub county of work.
Ailing teachers will top the priority list. Teachers suffering from chronic conditions such as High Blood Pressure, Diabetes etc will have their transfers early.
However TSC will evaluate each case on its own merit taking into consideration the supporting Medical documents, the availability and accessibility to the appropriate medical facilities amongst other factors in the proposed station.
3. Teachers with Disabilities;
Teachers with disability with the necessary certification were previously exempted from transfers outside their current station sub County.
Delocalized teachers who have a proven disability will have top consideration when the re-routing starts.
4. Family considerations:
Teachers with families will be considered. This will be a key factor when re-routing delocalized teachers home. A marriage certificate or an affidavit will be an evidence for marriage.
Previously TSC transferred couples who are employees of the Commission and have formally declared their marital status in the same neighborhood.
Teachers with sick parents or children or couple will also be given priority.
5. Length of stay since first appointment:
Previously for a teacher to be considered they must have served in a station for a period of not less than three (3) years and five (5) years for North Eastern and other areas respectively since first appointment; unless otherwise authorized by the Commission Secretary.
Though this will change priority will be given based on length of stay since first appointment.
Some teachers were delocalized in 2016 others in 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022. TSC will consider the time the teacher was first posted.
TERMS RELATED TO ONLINE TRANSFER YOU SHOULD KNOW
Pending: This is displayed once the teacher’s application is successfully delivered awaiting remarks from respective supervisors.
Acknowledged: This is displayed if the teacher is eligible for transfer and awaiting the availability of vacancy and or the teacher’s suitable replacement.
Not Approved: This is same as when the teacher’s request is regretted. This is applicable if the teacher has not met conditions set as per the transfer policy for example having not served in the current station for a period of not less than five years since first appointment, lack of suitable replacement or vacancy.
Approved: This is displayed after the transfer committee approves the teachers transfer request. The teachers transfer letter is then issued through the Principal in the case of post primary institutions and through the County Director in the case of primary school.
NOTE When a transfer request is withdrawn it simply means it was not successful or was successful and a new one can now be placed.