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Today marks the fourth day since the historic dispersal of TSC commissioners to 6 regions where carnal knowledge (usually termed CK) seems to be highly volatile. This comes at the backdrop of overwhelming cases of teacher indiscipline. The cases should be solved within three months but this time teachers have taken a notch higher thus leaving the Teachers Service Commission with no option apart from racing to beat the deadline.
PLOUGHING THE WRONG FIELDS
The Teachers Service Commission has so far received 1000 cases of teacher misconduct. 600 of these were filed across the 47 counties and 400 at its headquarters in Nairobi. Many of these cases involve teachers who have been allegedly “ploughing the wrong fields” affirming that indeed newly blossomed roses smell better. These teachers are purported to have been illegally engaged in sexual activities with under-age school-going students. Within the last 7 years, 1228 teachers have been laid off and deregistered due to having sexual relationships with learners. Within the year 2018-2019, 151 teachers have been dismissed.
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THE MALE TEACHER SYNDROME
The Teachers Service Commission statistics reveal that more male teachers are more likely to fall into the trap of “devouring the forbidden fruit” compared to their female counterparts. Only four cases of female teachers who have been involved in sexual affairs with learners have been reported.
CORPORAL PUNISHMENT
Despite the Teachers Service Commission’s enforcement of the law which bans corporal punishment in all Kenyan schools, some teachers cannot simply opt for better correction measures. They seem to be more devoted to corporal punishment than their employer’s views and the law. Maybe it is time they revisited the 48 laws of power.
THREE MONTHS
The Teachers Service Commission has changed the period within which these cases should be heard. This comes as a relief to the victims and the accused. Initially, the cases would last 6-12months. This long span would create room for manipulation and arm-twisting.
GREED AND IGNORANCE
The Teachers Service Commission Chief Executive Officer Dr. Nancy Macharia has expressed a lot of concern at the glaring menace of teenage pregnancy. The whistleblower cites greedy and ignorant parents as the main factor in promoting underage pregnancies. She blames ignorant parents who still hang on to retrogressive cultural practices such as early marriage for ruining their daughters’ lives.
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Dr. Nancy Macharia also accuses parents of their huge appetite for money. The poverty-stricken parents are believed to trade justice with some few coins. Consequently, they have to change their statements in favour of the accused. In the long run, there is obstruction of justice emanating from irresponsible parents.
TEENAGE PREGNANCY
According to this year’s Parliamentary Report, teenage pregnancy is on the rise. Kakamega County has got the highest number-88 cases with Wajir and Mandera tailing with only one. At a glance,
a. Kakamega -88
b. Kisii-61
c. Homa Bay-60
d. Kitui-53
e. Bungoma-47
f. Siaya- 46
g. Tana River- 4
h. Nairobi-3
i. Mandera-1
j. Wajir-1
This report is enough to sound a bell to all education stakeholders. It further serves us with bitter memories of last year’s KCPE and KCSE exams which were marred with cases of girls giving birth.
RELIEF FOR TEACHERS
Despite teachers been termed as blackguards in this mystery, there is enough evidence to sanitize their name and reclaim lost glory. This is because Dr Nancy Macharia confirmed that only 2% of teenage pregnancies are traced back to the teachers. Other notorious community members especially the infamous “bodaboda” riders are preying on school girls.
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