The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) will punish teachers in Nyamira County who participated in the burning of appraisal materials last week. Kenya National Union of Teachers Secretary-General Wilson Sossion and National Treasurer John Matiang’i are accused of instigating the incident. TSC’s head of communication Kihumba Kamotho on Sunday said: “TSC will ensure that the teachers are brought to book and made to take professional and criminal responsibility for their action.”

“The Commission takes great exception to such disgraceful action, especially when it is instigated and supported by an honourable member of Parliament who is also a state officer. Such an act of dishonour is certainly inconsistent with the tenets of the teaching profession,” the statement added.

NEGOTIATIONS

The union officials also asked teachers not to fill in the forms until the issue is resolved in a meeting between TSC and Knut scheduled to take place from September 30 to October 5. But Mr Kamotho said teachers can only take directives from their employer, who is represented by county and sub-county directors.

“Any purported directive relating to performance of teaching and administrative duties by union officials, including Mr Sossion, is not only illegal and misguided but downright pretentious. Teachers are advised to ignore such directives in the interest of their employment contract with TSC,” the statement said.