TSC Sub-County Directors Petition CEO Nancy Macharia Over Workplace Challenges.
The Sub-County Directors (SCDs) of the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) have expressed serious grievances about their working conditions to CEO Dr. Nancy Macharia.
In a formal letter, the SCDs, represented by their national leaders and welfare group head, have requested a meeting with the CEO to discuss their concerns.
Key Issues Affecting Sub-County Directors
The directors listed several challenges they face, which they claim are affecting their ability to execute their roles effectively and demotivating them.
1. Facilitation for Recruitment and Promotional Exercises
The SCDs raised concerns about the lack of facilitation during critical teacher recruitment exercises conducted in November and December last year. They also criticized the lack of support for ongoing teacher promotional interviews, stating that the recurring absence of logistical and financial assistance undermines the smooth execution of these important activities.
2. Compensation for Retooling Junior Secondary Teachers
The directors demanded reimbursement for personal expenses incurred during the Junior Secondary School (JSS) teacher retooling exercise conducted in December 2022. They highlighted that inadequate resource allocation left them struggling to ensure the process ran smoothly.
3. Disparities in Allowances
The SCDs reported that their allowances are significantly lower than those of teachers in the same job groups. For instance, they pointed out that their hardship allowance in Job Group D4 is KSh27,000, compared to KSh32,000 for teachers in the same grade—a difference of KSh5,000. Similarly, their house allowance is KSh16,000, while teachers receive KSh18,000. Additionally, their commuter allowance stands at KSh12,000, lower than the KSh14,000 paid to teachers in the same job group.
Job Stagnation and Operational Challenges
4. Stagnation in Job Groups
The directors expressed frustration over being stuck in the same job groups for over a decade, while teachers have been promoted multiple times within the same period. They argued that this disparity not only demoralizes them but also undermines the credibility of the Career Progression Guidelines (CPG) introduced by TSC.
5. Supervision Challenges
The SCDs highlighted the difficulty of overseeing principals who are in higher job groups. They noted that this creates an intimidating working environment, as their authority is undermined.
6. Inadequate Operational Funding
The directors criticized the quarterly imprest allocations, citing examples like the fuel allowance of KSh11,000 for three months, which they say is insufficient given rising living costs. They also requested an increase in their sanitation allocation, currently set at KSh500 per quarter, to a more reasonable amount.
Unfulfilled Promises
The SCDs accused the TSC of failing to deliver on its promise of quarterly stipends, which were to be deposited directly into their bank accounts. They argued that the absence of this financial support hampers the effective delivery of services.
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Call for Dialogue
In their letter, the directors emphasized that these challenges hinder their ability to fulfill their mandate effectively. They urged the Commission to review and address these concerns to ensure that SCDs are supported, motivated, and empowered to perform their duties.
The SCDs expressed willingness to engage in discussions with the Commission to resolve these issues and ensure efficient service delivery.
TSC Sub-County Directors Petition CEO Nancy Macharia Over Workplace Challenges.
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