Secondary schools in Turkana are facing a severe teacher shortage after more than 40 non-local teachers were abruptly transferred without replacements.
The sudden transfers have severely affected learning in the area which is already a hardship area with limited teaching personnel. Some schools including Lodwar Boys—a national school that has not produced a straight Grade A since 2015—are now at risk of further decline in performance.
Local education officials from KESSHA and KUPPET have lambasted TSC over the transfers saying there was no transparency and due process.
Unexplained Transfers Raise Questions
Speaking in Lodwar, KESSHA Turkana Chapter Secretary, Nicodemus Ingolan said the move was unusual and unjustified. He noted that the decision to transfer teachers to Baringo and Elgeyo Marakwet counties was done without planning for replacements.
“This mass transfer of teachers without consultation goes against the TSC Act of 2012 which provides clear guidelines on post-primary teacher transfers. It also contravenes the Basic Education Act of 2013 which upholds the right to inclusive and equitable education,” Ingolan said.
He added that removing teachers without replacements directly undermines the education rights of marginalized learners in the region.
Some affected teachers have since appealed their transfers saying they neither requested nor consented to the move. Many principals were also not consulted before the transfers were done.
KUPPET Issues Deadline
In response to the crisis KUPPET Turkana Branch Secretary-General, Michael Ekitela gave TSC 48 hours to address the issue.
“We have been marginalized for years and now when we expect better governance certain individuals in the Rift Valley regional office are still subjecting us to unfair treatment. We will not accept this,” Ekitela said.
He added that some schools had lost teachers in critical subjects like chemistry and biology and the workforce was already stretched.
KUPPET Turkana County Chairman, Simon Naremo asked TSC to deploy replacement teachers urgently.
“We will petition the relevant authorities and gather signatures to sue those responsible for this injustice,” Naremo said.Now.