Report wants teachers delocalised

Irene Githinji @gitshee

The Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) taskforce report is discouraging the local recruitment and staffing of teachers.

The taskforce report proposes that programmes be put in place for cultural exchange and integration between different schools, so that learners can appreciate the different cultures and dynamics in the country.

“On teacher recruitment, the Ministry (of Education) should adopt policy guidelines that discourage local recruitment and staffing of teachers, depending on the circumstances,” the report recommends.

Delocalisation policy

Previously, there was friction between Kenya National Union of Teachers (Knut) and Teachers Service Commission (TSC) over delocalisation policy, with the latter saying it is not a new phenomenon.

TSC stated that delocalisation is not meant to punish teachers, but is aimed at promoting national cohesion.

“Delocalisation is simply a transfer; we want to ensure that teachers do not teach in their locality for the entire career,” TSC, led by its CEO Nancy Macharia, firmly stated.

Knut was however opposed to the manner in which delocalisation was conducted in recent years saying it was meant to punish teachers.

At the same time, the taskforce report indicates that ethnic antagonism and competition are a major threat to Kenya’s success and to the very continuity of the nation.

To strengthen social ties and promote unity among all the communities, stakeholders recommended that the Education ministry, through the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development, reviews the curricula to introduce and integrate teaching of national unity, character, and cohesion to learners during their formative or early years.

 It also proposes the review of policies in the education sector that promote social integration, especially as regards admission to schools and institutions of higher learning.

The stakeholders also agreed with the BBI Report that deliberate efforts should be made to ensure a national outlook in the student and staff population in every school.