NANCY MACHARIA REINSTATED, COMMENCES NEW TERM AS TSC CEO
All eyes are now set on Dr. Nancy Macharia, the newly reappointed TSC CEO who earned herself another five years in office after a job well done.
In the teaching service, her reputation as an iron lady precedes her for she ruled with an iron fist for the past five years.
Given the peaceful reign enjoyed by the education sector, lack of industrial actions fueled by teachers’ unions over a pay rise, President Uhuru Kenyatta renewed her term for another five years despite opposition from the Law Society of Kenya and lobby group going by the name Midrift Human Rights Network.
DELOCALIZATION
One of her most controversial policies is the introduction of the delocalization policy which saw many teachers transferred from their home counties. Consequently, many school administrators were moved.
Last month, however, a circular signed by Dr. Macharia sought to decentralize the process of appointing school administrators- a possible graveyard for the highly contested policy.
In the Circular, the Commission took back the process of appointing senior teachers, masters, deputies, heads, and principals to the regional and county levels.
Another policy that she will be remembered for is the introduction of Career Progression Guidelines, CPGs, and regular appraisal of teachers. These are currently being used to promote teachers from one grade to another.
DIVIDE AND RULE
Besides, the CEO is accused of being the force behind the bad blood between KNUT and KUPPET, the two teachers’ giant unions.
In the past two years, KNUT and TSC have not been reading from the same script in as much as the implementation of Career Progression Guidelines, teachers’ promotions, implementation of CBA, CBC roll-out, and teachers’ delocalization are concerned.
The incessant wars culminated in countless court cases, deregistration of KNUT Boss Wilson Sossion, proposal to delink TSC from KNUT and failure to collect and remit KNUT union dues from members.
TSC and KNUT wars have cost the union an arm and a leg with KNUT members pulling out of the union and going for a rival union, KUPPET which seems to have gained favor from the Commission.
KUPPET is currently enjoying agency fees from more than 30, 000 teachers, the majority of whom were KNUT members.
KUPPET’s membership currently stands at 79,000 with 31, 000 more applicants expected to join the union.
More than 18, 000 school administrators-principals, heads, and deputies have also left KNUT for KUPPET to shield their payslips and get promoted.
This is after the TSC suspended promotions for all KNUT members now that the union did not subscribe to the newly introduced Career Progression Guidelines, CPGs that are currently being used to promote teachers.
NEW TERM
As she commences her new term, Dr. Nancy Macharia is expected to address the biting effects of Covid-19 on the education sector, especially the teaching service in Kenya.
She is also expected to negotiate with teachers’ unions on the new CBA that has already been tabled by KUPPET. The union seeks to have house allowance harmonized for all teachers irrespective of where they are posted.
To have a glimpse of what KUPPET demands in the new CBA, click on the following link to read the full article
