The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) has instituted stringent penalties for teachers who fail to declare details of their wealth within the stipulated timeframe. The consequences, as outlined in a circular dated 7th November 2023 by TSC CEO Dr. Nancy Macharia, include show cause and warning letters, salary stoppage, and other potential disciplinary actions.
Key points from the circular
- Declaration Requirement:
- All teachers employed by the Commission must declare their income, assets, and liabilities.
- This declaration extends to teachers on leave, interdiction, suspension, or authorized absence from duty.
- Intern teachers are exempted from this requirement.
- Legal Consequences:
- Failure to submit a declaration or providing false information may result in a fine of Ksh. 1,000,000, imprisonment for up to one year, or both, as per the Public Officer Ethics Act.
- Teachers may face administrative or disciplinary action according to TSC Administrative Procedures on Declarations of Income, Assets, and Liabilities (DIALs).
- Access to Declaration:
- The declaration can only be accessed by individuals who have activated their official @mwalimu.tsc.go.ke email address.
- The activation of the email address is crucial for user credibility, setting and resetting passwords, and accessing the declaration.
- Submission Process:
- Teachers should ensure accurate information filling and press the submit button before logging out.
- A copy of the submitted declaration will be sent automatically to the teacher’s email for reference and record.
- Hard copies of the DIALs forms will not be accepted.
- Campaign for Compliance:
- TSC has taken measures to digitize the wealth declaration exercise, and manual declarations are no longer accepted.
- The Commission expressed concern when, by 30th November 2023, only thirty percent of teachers had declared their wealth.
- County Directors were directed to conduct an aggressive campaign to remind teachers to make submissions and avoid last-minute rushes.
- Deadline Extension:
- Despite listing names of over one hundred thousand teachers who had not declared their wealth by 10th December, the Commission extended the deadline to 31st December.
- Details Required for Wealth Declaration:
- Basic details, including TSC number, mobile number, email, place of birth, marital status, educational level, and more.
- Personal details, including income, assets, liabilities, spouse and children details, and any other relevant information.
As the deadline approaches, teachers are urged to comply with the wealth declaration requirement to avoid the outlined penalties and contribute to the transparency and accountability in the education sector. The digitalization of this process marks a shift toward efficient and streamlined administrative practices within the teaching profession.
